Zarah ChoudharyBirmingham has been named the most stressed city in the UK, according to a new study by Instant Offices, which highlighted significant challenges faced by workers in the region.
The research analysed factors such as average salaries, gender pay gaps, and Google search trends for terms like “work stress” and “burnout,” painting a stark picture of increasing work-related stress across the country.
In 2024, the average UK employee took 21.1 days off due to stress, depression, or anxiety, resulting in a total of 16.4 million lost workdays over the year.
Birmingham workers, in particular, face considerable strain, with the city experiencing a high prevalence of searches related to burnout, a large gender pay gap, and lower-than-average salaries.
These factors contributed to Birmingham’s position at the top of the list, with the West Midlands, which includes Birmingham and Coventry, emerging as the most stressed region in the UK.
London recorded the highest number of stress-related Google searches, but Birmingham’s overall score placed it ahead in terms of stress levels.
The impact of this stress has been significant, with residents in the West Midlands reporting reductions in social activities, exercise, and self-care.
Across the UK, workers have identified several key causes of stress, including high workloads, unpaid tasks, regularly working overtime without compensation, financial pressures from the cost of living crisis, job insecurity, and fears of redundancy.
Workplace bullying and isolation have also been cited as contributing factors.
The study revealed that one in four UK adults reports feeling stressed more often than not, while one in nine experiences stress on a daily basis.
Women are particularly affected, reporting an average of 11.7 days of stress each month compared to 8.7 days for men.
Cities such as Derby, Coventry, and Luton, which have some of the largest gender pay gaps, also experience heightened stress levels among women workers.
Workers highlighted the importance of support from friends and family, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and regular exercise in managing stress.
Those with hybrid or remote work arrangements reported a healthier work-life balance compared to those in fixed-location roles.
A spokesperson at Instant Offices said: “Our team recently discussed how some high-income countries are showing a trend towards shorter workweeks, motivated by a strong focus on work-life balance and employee wellness.
“Following a pilot programme in 2023, 92% of companies who trialled a four-day week decided to continue after seeing an upswing in productivity and employee wellbeing, as well as a reduction in burnout, sick days and turnover.
“The popularity of this model is set to grow in the year to come.”
