Workforce Risk Insights
Detailed research and statistics on workforce mental health, productivity costs, and the economic impact of workplace wellbeing.
Japan
¥7.6 trillion annual productivity loss
Workplace mental health issues cost Japan's economy approximately ¥7.6 trillion annually (about 1.1% of GDP).
SourceUS $46B lost to presenteeism annually
Employees working while mentally unwell drive the majority of economic productivity loss.
Source1,000+ recognised work-related mental health disorder cases (2024)
Including cases linked to overwork (karōshi / karōjisatsu).
SourceAustralia
AUD $39B annual workplace mental health cost
Poor workplace mental health costs Australian employers up to AUD $39 billion annually through lost productivity and turnover.
SourceAUD $10.9B annual cost from untreated mental health conditions
Driven by absenteeism and presenteeism.
SourcePsychological injury claims cost approximately 4× more than physical injury claims
SourceGlobal
12 Billion Workdays lost annually
Depression and anxiety cost the global economy approximately US $1 trillion annually.
SourceLatest News
Japan's Workhorse Prime Minister Tests Labour Limits
2026 will see renewed cabinet-led reform of Japan's Labor Standards Act. With karoshi incidents rising 18% to a record 1,304 in 2024, critics warn that proposed "self-discretionary work hours" could increase burnout risk.
Read article →NSW Employers Could Soon Be Fined for Workplace Bullying or Other Psychosocial Harms
New SafeWork reforms in NSW introduce significant penalties for employers who fail to address psychosocial hazards. Fines of up to $10.85 million for corporations and $1.08 million for individuals.
Read article →Workforce Trends 2026: Leaders Confront Burnout, Disengagement, and AI-Driven Change
Employee engagement has dropped to just 64% — down from 88% in 2025. 52% of workers say burnout drags down engagement, up from 34% previously. Entry-level employees are most affected.
Read article →Australia's HR Crisis: Stress, Burnout & Workforce Pressure
76% of HR professionals report high stress and declining mental health. 73% are considering leaving the profession entirely. 81% struggle to balance employee wellbeing with business financial realities.
Read article →Employee Burnout Statistics 2026: Global & Workplace Insights
61% of Australian workers report experiencing burnout, compared to the global average of 48%. Burnout is now attributed to 40% of employee resignations, with stress-related absenteeism costing $14 billion annually.
Read article →Record Number of Applicants Seek Compensation for Job-Related Mental Stress
Japan's karoshi white paper reveals a record 3,780 employees filed for mental health-related compensation in fiscal 2024 — the sixth consecutive year of record highs. 1,055 cases were approved, nearly triple the number from 15 years ago.
Read article →Every Australian Jurisdiction Now Requires Psychosocial Hazard Controls
By December 2025, every Australian state and territory requires employers to explicitly identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards. Mental health claims now account for 12% of all serious workplace claims and are one of the costliest forms of workplace injury.
Read article →Victoria's New Psychological Health Regulations Now in Effect
Victorian employers must now take specific steps to identify psychosocial hazards and control work-related risks to mental health, including bullying, sexual harassment, aggression, and exposure to traumatic events.
Read article →Updated Guidance: Managing Workplace Psychosocial Risks
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has developed updated guidance to better support businesses in managing psychosocial hazards, reflecting responsibilities under the Managing the Risk of Psychosocial Hazards Code of Practice.
Read article →NSW Overhauls Workplace Laws: Major Reforms to WHS, Bullying and Harassment
The Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025 creates a dedicated anti-bullying and sexual harassment jurisdiction. NSW Government announces $344 million investment in workplace mental health.
Read article →Queensland's Psychosocial Hazards Prevention Plan Mandate
From 1 March 2025, every Queensland business that identifies psychosocial risks must have a written prevention plan in place. The regulations recognise 17 specific psychosocial hazards that employers must actively identify and manage.
Read article →New Federal Code of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
Comcare has established a dedicated unit within its WHS inspectorate to focus on regulation of psychosocial hazards. The new Work Health and Safety (Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work) Code of Practice 2024 is now in force across Commonwealth jurisdictions.
Read article →Beyond Tradition: Reinventing the Japanese Workplace
Only 7% of Japan's employees are engaged — making it one of the least engaged workforces globally. Disengaged workplaces cost the Japanese economy an estimated $524 billion annually in lost productivity.
Read article →Japan Recognizes Record Number of Deaths and Health Disorders Related to Overwork
There were 1,304 recognized cases of overwork-related deaths (karoshi) and health disorders in fiscal 2024, up 196 year on year — an 18% increase reaching a record high.
Read article →Workplace Conflicts Drive Japan's Surge in Mental Health Compensation Claims
More than 60% of employees cited strained relationships with supervisors as the leading cause of mental distress. In the medical field, 35.5% cited traumatic incidents; in IT, over 40% pointed to dramatic workload changes.
Read article →Business Obligations for Mental Health Workplace Safety: Regulatory Changes
Comprehensive overview of employer obligations across Australian jurisdictions, including risk assessment requirements, consultation duties, and the shift from well-being initiatives to governance and compliance.
Read article →Employee Burnout Statistics - Australia 2025
Nearly 40% of Australian workers expect stress and burnout to be harder to manage in 2025. Two in five employees are beginning the year already burnt out. 90% feel burnout is ignored until it becomes critical.
Read article →Mental Health Workplace Claims Australia: 2025 Statistics and Analysis
Mental health conditions account for 9% of all serious workers' compensation claims — a 36.9% increase since 2017-18. Median time lost is 4× greater than physical injuries, and compensation paid is 3× greater.
Read article →Burnout Leaving Millions of Australians Ready to Quit
Burnout is driving millions of Australian workers to consider leaving their jobs. Australia ranks among the most overworked OECD countries, with long working hours contributing to persistent stress and disengagement.
Read article →Burnout at 'Alarming Levels' in Australia, Report Finds
"Burnout is reaching alarming levels in the Australian workforce" with a surge in stress, exhaustion, and disengagement among employees. The average employee now experiences up to 11 major changes each year.
Read article →Workforce Risk Intelligence
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