New research from Robert Half reveals a growing strain on today’s workers. According to a survey of 1,500 professionals across Canada, 47% report feeling burned out and 31% indicate they are more burned out now than they were the year prior. In 2024, Robert Half reported 42% of workers were experiencing burnout, while in 2023 the number was 33%.
The top factors contributing to burnout:
- Heavy workloads and long hours (39%)
- Emotional or mental fatigue from high-stress tasks (38%)
- Insufficient work-life balance (28%)
- Lack of management support or recognition (28%)
- Lack of professional growth opportunities (28%)
Those who report the highest burnout levels are:
- Professionals in the legal and HR fields (59%)
- Working parents (51%)
- Millennial professionals (50%)
Burnout isn’t just affecting workers—it’s also impacting businesses. The heavy workloads cited by workers as the top driver of burnout are in part a consequence of longer hiring cycles. According to a separate survey of more than 1,050 managers, 39% said burnout among existing staff is a major challenge they face when unable to fill a necessary role. Other repercussions they report facing are decreased productivity (40%), delayed project timelines (34%), higher turnover (30%), and lost revenue (24%).