A recent survey reveals that a significant proportion of Gen Z workers in the UK are considering leaving their jobs due to mental health concerns, with one in four young people contemplating quitting work over the past year. The findings underscore growing concerns about mental well-being in the workplace, especially among younger generations.
The survey, which polled over 4,000 employees across 300 UK companies, showed that 20% of all workers have thought about taking extended leave in the past year. However, younger workers, particularly those under 35, are more likely to consider leaving the workforce. Mental health challenges were identified as a central factor in these decisions, highlighting the pressure on young people in today’s work environment.
The data comes at a time when a record number of Britons—approximately 9.4 million people, or 22% of working-age adults—are not participating in the workforce due to health issues. This trend has raised alarm among businesses and policymakers alike.
In particular, Gen Z employees expressed a stronger desire to leave work than older generations, a shift that could have significant implications for the UK’s workforce and economy. Nine out of ten employers surveyed reported concerns about the lack of economic growth, with over half noting an increase in employee turnover.
Marco Amitrano, Senior Partner at PwC UK, emphasized that businesses are “understandably concerned” about the impacts of rising mental health challenges on productivity and financial performance. Amitrano noted, “Much of the current conversation focuses on how to get people outside the workforce back in, but equally important is stemming the flow of people leaving the workforce in the first place.”
His comments reflect broader concerns within the UK economy, where the number of job vacancies fell to 819,000 in the three months leading up to January, marking a decrease of 9,000 from previous months. Despite this, the UK’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4%, though experts have cautioned that the true picture may be skewed by recent changes to the country’s jobs survey.
Katie Johnston, PwC’s leader for local and devolved government, stressed the need for a collaborative effort between businesses and all levels of government to address the issue of economic inactivity. “If we are serious about reducing economic inactivity and contributing to the Government’s ambition for growth, we need coordinated action—not just to help people back into work, but also to prevent the flow of people out of it,” Johnston said.
Amidst these challenges, there are ongoing discussions within the UK government about reforming the welfare system. Labour MP Rachel Reeves has argued that Britain’s welfare system is “broken” and needs urgent reform to reduce the growing costs of benefits. Speaking to broadcasters, Reeves stated, “The current system is not working for anyone—it’s not helping those who need support, it’s not encouraging people to return to work, and it’s not sustainable for taxpayers.”
As the UK navigates these economic and social challenges, the focus remains on balancing support for those in need with measures to reduce inactivity in the workforce and promote long-term economic growth.
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