Over Four Million Working Days Lost to Work-Place Stress in the Public Sector
By Ridwaan Omar, a Partner and Head of Regulatory at Forbes Solicitors (www.forbessolicitors.co.uk)
Work-related stress is causing over four million lost working days per year in the public sector, with an overhaul of staff training needed to fix the problem, according to new analysis by Forbes Solicitors (www.forbessolicitors.co.uk).
The government’s latest Employer Skills Survey shows that employers in education, health and social work, and public administration are the most likely in the UK to have provided staff with training during the past 12 months. However, all three sectors are experiencing the UK’s highest rates of work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
Recently published HSE data shows above-average numbers of public sector workers reporting health issues caused by undue pressures and demands placed on them at work.
The rate of public administration and defence sector employees reporting work-related stress, depression or anxiety stands at 3.5%, while it ranks at 2.8% in human health and social work activities, and is 2.6% in the education sector. This compares to an average of 2% across all industries.
Each person suffering stress, depression or anxiety took an average 22.9 days off from work during 2024-2025, according to the HSE. Analysis by the Public Sector Division at Forbes Solicitors’ shows this could be causing 4.2million* lost working days throughout the public sector per year, despite the willingness of organisations to invest in training to support staff.
Ridwaan Omar, a Partner and Head of Regulatory at Forbes Solicitors, commented:
“Public sector employers should be commended for prioritising staff training, but also be mindful that current approaches might be doing more harm than good. Organisations may believe they have solutions in place, like training, to address work-place stress, but the data shows this isn’t working and risks compromising an employer’s duty of care to protect staff health and wellbeing.
“It’s alarming the three sectors (education, health and social work, and public administration) which rank top for providing staff training, are also the same three sectors experiencing the highest levels of work-place stress, depression or anxiety. There’s a clear disconnect here and an overhaul of training is required to ensure it is fit for purpose and meeting the needs of workers.
“Employers may want to revisit workplace risk assessments to effectively determine triggers of stress and to inform the development of training programmes that effectively support staff. This could help organisations to fulfil their legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to protect to protect employees from work-related stress and mental health risks.”
*4.2million lost working days based on:
ONS data shows 6.18million employees in the public sector – source.
Mean rate of 2.97% of public sector workers reporting work-related stress, depression or anxiety. This is based on a mean calculated across 3.5% (public administration), 2.8% (human health and social work) and 2.6% (education).
2.97% of 6.18million = 183,546 employees.
183,546 x 22.9 days off work for work-related stress, depression or anxiety = 4,203,203.4 lost working days.
References:
Government’s Employer Skills Survey, published 25th July 2025 – link
HSE, Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain 2025 – link
HSE, Working days lost in Great Britain in 2024/25 – link
