Europe: Half of workers stressed, one-third eyeing job change

Half of workers across 10 European countries have reported experiencing daily work-related stress, with one-third saying they do not believe there are enough opportunities to achieve their career goals according to Manpower Group’s survey. One-third are considering changing jobs within the next six months, and 58% are confident that they could find another job that met their needs.

The Global Talent Barometer, released by ManpowerGroup, provides insights into well-being, job satisfaction, and workforce confidence across 16 countries, including 10 from Europe. Euronews Business offers an in-depth analysis of the findings specific to the European countries surveyed.

Workplace stress: a widespread challenge across Europe

The survey reveals that workplace stress is highly prevalent across Europe, with an average of 48% of workers in 10 European countries reporting daily stress at work, with levels varying significantly between countries.

More than half of workers report experiencing stress in four European countries, with Spain leading at 58%. Sweden and Italy follow closely, both at 53%, and Poland at 51%.

Workers in the Netherlands reported the lowest levels of stress at 34%, followed by Norway at 40% and Switzerland at 46%.

In three of Europe’s other major economies – the UK, Germany, and France – stress levels align with the European average of 48%.

Despite these significant stress levels, two-thirds (65%) of workers feel supported in maintaining work-life balance and personal well-being. France reported the lowest level of support at 59%, followed closely by Germany and Switzerland at 60%. In contrast, workers in the Netherlands reported the highest level of perceived support, at 73%.

Large majority find their work meaningful

The majority of workers in Europe (82%) also feel that the work they do is meaningful and purposeful. Italy has the lowest rate for this indicator although it remains relatively high at 75%, while Germany and Poland lead with 87%.

The Netherlands reported the highest overall workforce well-being at 73%, based on an index derived from four key variables in the chart. In contrast, Italy (60%) and France (61%) recorded the lowest levels of workforce well-being.

One-third considering a job change

When asked: “How likely are you to change jobs on your own initiative in the next six months?” 34% of workers in Europe responded with “likely” or “very likely”,  indicating low job satisfaction among this group. The figure aligns closely with the European average in most countries, ranging from a low of 28% in Norway to a high of 37% in Poland.

Finding meaning yet considering leaving: a paradox?

While 82% believe their work has meaning and purpose, a third is considering job change, and a half is a victim of work stress. Is this a paradox? “We don’t believe these different factors of worker sentiment are mutually exclusive. In our experience, most of our associates find meaning in their work, even when it is stressful,” ManpowerGroup Global Insights Team told Euronews Business. 

Employee-employer relationship “at a crossroads”

ManpowerGroup chief commercial officer Becky Frankiewicz believes that  the employee-employer relationship is at a crossroads. “People expect work to offer them more. More balance. More options. More humanity. More than just a paycheck,” she said.  

She emphasised that the purpose alone isn’t enough to retain talent. “Employees are voting with their feet, seeking workplaces that deliver on multiple fronts – from mental health support and work-life balance to career development and skills training.”

One-fourth fear job loss

Job security sentiment is relatively strong, with 71% of workers in the 10 European countries confident they won’t be forced to leave their current job in the next six months. However, one-fourth (25%) express concern about job loss, while the remaining 4% are neutral on the matter.

Fear of job loss is lowest in Norway, with only 18% of workers expressing concern. In contrast, three in 10 of workers in Spain and Poland (both at 29%) report the highest levels of concern about involuntary job loss.

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More than half confident about finding new jobs

Job search confidence – the percentage of people who believe they could find another job meeting their needs within the next six months – stands at approximately six in 10 (58%). However, significant disparities exist across countries. Confidence is lowest in Italy (48%), followed by Sweden (49%), while the highest levels are reported in the Netherlands (66%) and the UK (65%).

One-third believe they lack career opportunities

One-third (35%) of respondents think there are not enough opportunities for promotion, or movement within their organisation to achieve their career goals. This perception is highest in Norway (41%), followed by Switzerland (39%) and Sweden (38%). In contrast, only 27% of workers in the Netherlands see a ceiling in their current workplace, citing insufficient opportunities for career goal achievement.

Explaining the potential reasons behind this gap, the Insights Team observed that employee satisfaction in the Netherlands was the highest, while Norway ranked lower. “We believe the key driver is employer best practices. For instance, 42% of workers in the Netherlands reported receiving training in the past six months, compared to 37% of their colleagues in Norway,” they explained.

The report is based on data gathered from over 12,000 workers. In addition to 10 European countries, the global average includes insights from six others: Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and the United States.

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