Work exhaustion rising, especially among women and young people
Exhaustion from work has been on the rise in the Netherlands for the past decade, with 21% of people saying...
Work exhaustion has been increasing in the Netherlands over the past decade, according to new research from national statistics office CBS and research institute TNO. In 2025, 21% of people reported feeling mentally fatigued at least a few times per month, up from 13% in 2015. Women are more affected than men, with 24% of female employees experiencing fatigue compared to 18% of men.
Younger people, particularly those aged 25-34, are the most impacted, with the 25-34 age group seeing the biggest rise in fatigue from 15% in 2015 to 28% in 2025. The most complex jobs, which require specialized skills and higher education, have the highest fatigue rates at 23%, compared to 18% in the least complex jobs. Psychologists and sociologists also reported the highest rates of fatigue at 37%.
Psychological complaints, stress, and burnout were the reason for 9% of employees' recent sick leave, accounting for an average of 67 days off work each. Burnout was the most commonly reported occupational illness, with 1.9% of workers diagnosed by a doctor. Psychologists and sociologists have called for a reevaluation of burnout diagnosis in the Netherlands, following Sweden's decision to drop the term.
The government's health advisory council has warned of a "hypernervous society", estimating the cost of mental health problems at €18 billion annually.
Written by urgent.news from DutchNews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
