Share of employees mentally drained by work rises to 21%

In 2025, 21% of employees felt mentally fatigued by work a few times a month or more, up from 20% a year earlier and 13% ten years earlier. The figures come from the Nationale Enquête Arbeidsomstandigheden (NEA), a working conditions survey by CBS and TNO. Employees count as mentally fatigued when they regularly feel tired and exhausted, for example emotionally drained by work or empty at the end of the day.

Work-related mental fatigue climbed from 13% to 21% of employees in ten years

% of employees · 2015–2025

Work-related mental fatigue climbed from 13% to 21% of employees in ten years (% of employees). From 13.4 in 2015 to 20.7 in 2025; highest 20.7 in 2025, lowest 13.4 in 2015. Source: CBS, TNO.

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Data: Work-related mental fatigue climbed from 13% to 21% of employees in ten years

Period	% of employees
2015	13.4
2016	14.6
2017	15.9
2018	17.3
2019	17
2020	15.7
2021	17.3
2022	20
2023	19
2024	20.1
2025	20.7

Employees aged 25 to 35 saw the biggest increase, and this group is also the most affected: 28% in 2025, up from 15% in 2015. Among 55- to 65-year-olds there was no rise. For 65- to 75-year-olds the share grew from 2% to 9%. CBS says this is partly because more people in this group have not yet reached state pension (AOW) age.

The rise is sharper among women. In 2025, 24% of female employees felt mentally fatigued by work, against 14% ten years earlier. Among men the share rose from 13% to 18%.

Mental fatigue rose at every skill level, CBS says. It is highest at the top level, which covers the most complex expert tasks: 23%, up from 15% in 2015. At the lowest level it is 18%, up from 12%.

About a quarter of employees in teaching, creative and language jobs, ICT, and in care and welfare jobs are affected. Agricultural jobs are lowest, at 12%.

After flu and colds (55%), mental health issues, stress and burnout are the most cited reason for the most recent sick leave, at 9%. They were cited by 11% of women who took sick leave and 7% of men. Such absences last 67 days on average, the longest of any complaint, against 15 days for all absences in 2025.

Overstrain or burnout was also the most reported occupational disease in 2025. 3.6% of employees reported one or more doctor-diagnosed occupational diseases, and just over half of those were overstrain or burnout (1.9% of all employees).

Within care and welfare jobs, mental fatigue from work was most common among psychologists and sociologists in 2025: 37% of them felt it a few times a month or more, CBS says.

Among workers under 25, the share who feel mentally fatigued by work has also grown sharply, from just under 8% in 2015 to more than 18% in 2025.

Fatigue rose in nearly every age group, most among 25- to 35-year-olds

% of employees

Fatigue rose in nearly every age group, most among 25- to 35-year-olds (% of employees). Highest: 55 to 65, 16.4; lowest: 65 to 75, 2.2; 6 items. Source: CBS, TNO.

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Data: Fatigue rose in nearly every age group, most among 25- to 35-year-olds

Item	2015	2025
15 to 25	7.7	18.4
25 to 35	15	28.2
35 to 45	14	23.1
45 to 55	13.9	18.6
55 to 65	16.4	16.7
65 to 75	2.2	8.5

Fatigue rose at every occupational level, most at the top

% of employees

Fatigue rose at every occupational level, most at the top (% of employees). Highest: Level 4 (most complex tasks), 14.7; lowest: Level 1 (least complex tasks), 11.8; 4 items. Source: CBS, TNO.

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Data: Fatigue rose at every occupational level, most at the top

Item	2015	2025
Level 1 (least complex tasks)	11.8	17.7
Level 2	12.8	18.7
Level 3	13.4	20.5
Level 4 (most complex tasks)	14.7	23.4