New research reveals that more than half of the Aotearoa New Zealand workforce is currently classified as being at high risk of occupational burnout, with job insecurity emerging as the leading cause.
In April, a survey conducted by the wellbeing@work project at Massey Business School discovered that 57% of Kiwi employees now fall within the high burnout risk category, a significant increase from December’s rate, which was 25%.
The study indicates various levels of burnout across industries in New Zealand, with clerical workers reporting the highest rate and business professionals reporting the lowest.
Highest burnout rates:
- Clerical workers (87.9%)
- Educational professionals (86.6%)
- Office managers (70.7%)
- Health professionals (63.5%)
Lowest (yet considered high) burnout rates:
- Business professionals (22.2%)
- Salespeople (23.1%)
- Office support workers (23.3%)
- Information and communication technology professionals (25%)
Lead researcher Professor Jarrod Haar (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Mahuta) said the primary factor contributing to the increased levels of burnout was the prevalence of job insecurity.
“Those who perceive their job as most under threat have increased from 22% in December 2023 to 48.4% in April 2024. The changed job market has truly struck the workforce, and those in the high job insecurity group are 14.5 times more likely to be in the burnout risk group. The workforce is feeling massive strain due to the fear of job losses, leading to incredibly high levels of job burnout,” Haar stated.
With the risk of burnout doubling, there is a critical concern for both employees and employers. “Those in the burnout risk category are far more likely to experience mental health issues like anxiety and depression, as well as higher levels of insomnia,” Haar said.
“Employers should also be concerned, as burnt-out workers are 16.5 times more likely to seriously consider quitting their job. They are also 28.5 times more likely to engage in poor work behaviours often, including slacking off and not trying. Both of these issues can translate into high costs for employers,” he added.
The research also revealed variations in burnout levels among different regions. The South Island reported the lowest incidence (Nelson at 14.3%, the West Coast and Otago both at 33.3%), while Gisborne reported the highest at 81.1%, followed by the Bay of Plenty at 71.9% and Waikato at 67%.
There is also evident significance based on the working environment. Full-time remote workers reported the lowest levels at 15.4%, followed by full-time office workers at 31.8%. Hybrid workers reported the highest productivity rate but also the highest burnout rate at 72.4%.
Professor Haar emphasises the findings as a warning sign.
“This will require some major steps by employers and leaders to better understand and alleviate the stressors that workers face. Making job restructures clearer and faster, with an emphasis on a human touch, is needed. I encourage employers who have made changes to remind their workforce that the change is completed. Such communication can alleviate worries about job insecurity.”
Wellbeing@Work is an ongoing research project that aims to understand the challenges of job burnout in New Zealand’s workforce. The research depicts job burnout in four dimensions: emotional exhaustion, mental distancing, cognitive impairment, and emotional impairment. Since 2020, Professor Haar has been monitoring the burnout rate, with each survey encompassing more than 1000 New Zealand employees.