Over 13 million UK employees are at risk of exhaustion, according to new data revealing the industries most affected by burnout.
The study, carried out by HR software provider Personio, combined its Burnout Risk Index with official employment figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to estimate how many workers face critical stress levels across 10 major sectors. The index measures factors such as job insecurity, emotional strain, long hours and turnover rates.
Finance professionals were found to face the greatest risk, scoring 87 out of 100, followed by law (78) and technology (66). By comparison, staff in healthcare and social care scored lower at 40, but due to the sector’s size — more than 5 million employees — an estimated 2 million people are still affected.
White-Collar Professions Show the Greatest Strain
While healthcare and education employ large sections of the workforce, the data suggests burnout is far more common in white-collar sectors such as finance and law, where long hours, tight deadlines and high pressure remain the norm.
Across all industries, more than one in three workers could be at risk. Law, for instance, employs around 3.5 million people, with 78 percent considered vulnerable to burnout, equivalent to 2.7 million individuals. In the technology sector, 1.05 million of the 1.6 million workforce face similar risk levels.
Creative industries, including journalism, marketing and communications, recorded a burnout score of 62, equating to nearly 700,000 people under strain. Education followed closely with a risk score of 61, or 1.9 million workers affected.
At the lower end of the scale, hospitality and retail both scored 37, suggesting that while fewer workers in those sectors may experience clinical burnout, their large workforce sizes still translate to significant numbers of affected staff.
‘A Business Model Problem, Not a People Problem’
Neil Millen, director of people business at Personio, said the data should prompt employers to rethink how they structure work.
“These figures are a wake-up call,” he said. “A third of the workforce edging toward burnout is not a ‘people problem’ – it’s a business model problem. Without action, we risk creating a generation of workers pushed to exhaustion, with serious consequences for productivity and retention. The companies that thrive will be those that redesign work to fuel energy, not drain it.”
Millen said employers could prevent burnout by focusing on everyday management practices rather than relying on superficial wellbeing initiatives. He advised leaders to “design work around life, not the other way around,” by ensuring that workflows and deadlines respect employees’ time outside of work.
He also recommended that employers prioritise mental health support, build recognition into daily routines and encourage open communication by seeking feedback and showing vulnerability. “Small, consistent actions beat grand gestures every time,” he said.
HR Experts Urge Action Before Fatigue Deepens
The findings come amid rising concern over mental health and burnout across UK workplaces, particularly as hybrid and remote working blur the lines between professional and personal life. HR specialists have warned that persistent stress and long hours are driving absenteeism, disengagement and staff turnover.
Personio’s Burnout Risk Index uses nine indicators — including hours worked, job satisfaction, absence rates and pay — to calculate each sector’s risk score. The company said that while some organisations had made progress in embedding wellbeing into their operations, many were still addressing symptoms rather than root causes.
With one-third of the workforce now showing signs of burnout, experts say meaningful change will require more than ad-hoc wellbeing campaigns. Sustained improvements will depend on cultural change, balanced workloads and clear recognition that rest and recovery are essential components of productivity.