In 2022/23, nearly 2 million workers in the UK reported experiencing health issues linked to their jobs, according to recent figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on Wednesday, 22 November.
These newly published annual statistics highlight that around 1.8 million British workers suffered from health problems due to work, with stress, depression, or anxiety accounting for about half of these cases.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of self-reported work-related health issues had remained relatively stable, but the current figures surpass those of 2018/19.
The 2022/23 period saw approximately 875,000 instances of work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, marking an increase over pre-pandemic levels.
In the same year, an estimated 35.2 million workdays were lost because of health issues or injuries attributed to work conditions.
Sarah Albon, the Chief Executive of HSE, emphasised the significant benefits of addressing work-related stress, both for employee well-being and employer benefits like increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower staff turnover.
Additionally, these statistics shed light on the economic impact of work-related health issues and injuries in the UK. The total annual cost of workplace injuries and new health issues was estimated at £20.7 billion in 2021/22, which is a £1.9 billion increase from 2019/20.
The report also noted that 135 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents in 2022/23, and 561,000 workers reported non-fatal injuries at work during the same period.