A groundbreaking report from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) has, for the first time, put a price tag on the economic toll of work-related stress across the European Union, estimating it at over €100bn (US$105bn) annually.

The study, titled 'Work-related stress and cardiovascular diseases', highlights the staggering financial and human costs of workplace stress, linking it to cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders like depression.

The ETUI report reveals that work-related stress contributes significantly to cardiovascular diseases, which account for a substantial portion of the €100 billion cost. These expenses stem from healthcare costs, lost productivity, and absenteeism due to stress-induced illnesses. The study also underscores the mental health impact, with depression caused by workplace stress adding to the economic strain.

In 2015 alone, the report estimates that more than 10,000 workers died, and over 400,000 years of life were lost due to cardiovascular diseases and depression caused by work-related psychosocial risks. “These are preventable deaths,” said Dimitra Theodori, Head of Health and Safety at ETUI. “We urgently need to redesign work environments to protect both mental and physical health.”

The report identifies significant variations in stress levels across EU member states, with countries like Poland reporting higher rates of workplace stress compared to nations such as the Netherlands and Switzerland. France, Belgium, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands rank among the five countries most affected in terms of cost per 100,000 workers. The cost of depression attributable to all five PWEs is for instance 2.2 times higher in the Netherlands than in Poland per 100,000 workers, or 2.3 times higher in France than in Portugal.

Women workers are disproportionately affected by psychosocial risks such as excessive working hours, job uncertainty, and workplace bullying.

A Call for Action

The ETUI urges employers and EU institutions to treat work-related stress as an organisational issue requiring collective action. The report advocates for stronger workplace policies, including better stress management programmes, improved working conditions, and greater support for mental health. It also calls for regulatory measures to hold employers accountable for mitigating stress-related risks.

“While workplace fatalities have decreased over the years, the toll of psychosocial risks continues to rise—often invisible, yet devastating. It's time to treat mental well-being as a fundamental workplace right,” said Theodori.

The sentiment is echoed in the ETUI’s recommendations, which emphasize collaboration between employers, unions, and policymakers to reduce the burden of stress.

Broader Implications

The report’s release comes amid growing concern over workplace wellbeing in the EU, with 51% of workers reporting that stress is common in their workplaces and 40% believing it is poorly managed, according to EU-OSHA data. The ETUI’s findings align with these concerns, warning that unaddressed stress could undermine efforts to build resilient and sustainable economies.

Social media discussions on platforms like X have amplified the report’s impact, with users highlighting the €100 billion figure as evidence of systemic workplace issues. Posts describe the cost as a reflection of “conditions that make people stressed or unhappy at work,” urging political action to address deteriorating work environments.

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has recorded the best ever safety performance in its history

The company achieved a historic milestone of 35 million safe working hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) on 8 May 2025, reaffirming its position as a regional and global safety leader.

Alba’s chief executive officer, Ali Al Baqali, commented, “35 million safe working hours is a groundbreaking achievement in the global aluminium industry. This milestone is a testament to the thousands of moments of mindful action, the collective responsibility embraced wholeheartedly by each and every member of our dedicated workforce and the power of a shared vision for a safer tomorrow.”

Alba’s foundational ‘Safety First’ culture is strengthened by dedicated safety campaigns, comprehensive in-house training programmes, weekly Safety Talks and active shop-floor engagement by Alba’s executives, all of which play a crucial role in promoting a safer workplace for all.

This year, its campaigns have included a plant-wide Ramadan safety and health campaign, aimed at prioritising the safety and well-being of employees and contractors’ workers through a range of various interactive activities. These included lectures by external and internal experts as well as plant visits promoting meaningful engagement between management and shopfloor employees.

Over the past seven years, Alba has achieved an 87.5% decrease in injuries, underscoring its dedication to safeguarding its workforce.

A proven track record

The company’s safety performance has been recognised this year with the award of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA’s) President’s award for the third consecutive year, and six major awards from the USA’s National Safety Council (NSC).

The RoSPA President’s award is given to organisations demonstrating exceptional Safety and Health performance over the years, and recognises the company’s commitment to ensure a safe and healthy work environment as well as setting global benchmarks in safety and health.

“At Alba, Safety is not just a priority or a practice, it’s the bedrock upon which all our operations and processes are built,” said Al Baqali “We are not just building a safer workplace; we are building a culture of safety that prioritises the well-being of our people. Receiving this distinguished award for the third consecutive year proves that we are on the right track in our Safety journey and fuels our determination to advance with even greater dedication, ensuring the safety and well-being of our most valuable assets - our people, encompassing both our employees and contractors’ workers,”

Lord Jordan of Bournville, RoSPA's Life president, acknowledged the exceptional leadership and inspiration coming from the company’s CEO saying, “As one of the cornerstones of Bahrain’s economy, Alba sends out a powerful message to all industries. ‘You can be successful and safe’.”

The NSC awards are granted to organisations that meet strict criteria based on their safety performance in accordance with the OSHA requirements in the USA. The six awards scooped by Alba this year were the Million Work Hours Award, Occupational Excellence Achievement Award, Perfect Record Award, Safety Leadership Award, Significant Improvement Award and Milestone Award.

A growing body of research indicates that young people are increasingly dissatisfied at work. In a recent episode of the ILO’s Global Challenges, Global Solutions podcast, economist Professor David Blanchflower explored the rising levels of unhappiness among youth and the urgent need for action.

Blanchflower highlighted a major shift since 2013. “What we’ve seen is a big increase in the unhappiness levels of the young.” Originally noticed in the US, the trend has spread globally, particularly in developed nations like the UK, Canada, Australia, and Northern Europe. He notes that this rising unhappiness is linked to poor mental health, academic struggles, and difficulty transitioning from school to work.

“Young people who are having problems with their mental health—their test scores, their reading test scores are being negatively impacted,” he said, adding that the problem is evident at university level and beyond, with many young people “moving from college to out of the labour force.”

Internet access and smartphone usage are key contributors. “Places that have had the biggest growth in access to the internet, in general, are the ones that look the worst,” Blanchflower explained. He pointed out that in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where smartphone penetration is lower, the mental health of young people appears more stable. “It’s about the amount of time they’re spending on their phones,” he added, warning that screen time is replacing real-world experiences vital for development.

A gender imbalance

Gender differences are also striking. “The mental health of young women appears to be much worse than young men,” Blanchflower said. In the US, “about 11% of young women between the ages of 18 and 24 say that every day of their lives is a bad mental health day.” This is accompanied by a rise in suicide attempts and hospitalisations, particularly among young women.

When it comes to solutions, Blanchflower called for better support during the transition from school to work and more structured social engagement for youth. “They’re not joining clubs as they did… They’re not participating in the ways that they did before.” However, he admitted, “We don’t really know what to do.”

He is organising a major conference with the UN to develop global strategies. “Countries around the world are going to have to start to think about what to do, as they did in the 1980s.” The goal is to identify practical measures that governments and international bodies can adapt to local contexts.

“This is like a spreading pandemic,” Blanchflower said. While the challenges are clear, he stresses the need for collective, global action before the damage becomes irreversible.