Which industries have the worst impact on employee wellbeing?

A new study conducted in the UK has identified the industries that have the most significant impact on the wellbeing of their employees, shedding light on the physical, mental, and social effects of different careers.

The research, conducted by Phoenix Health & Safety, examined how various industries influence workers’ physical and mental health, as well as the extent to which their jobs disrupt their social lives.

According to the findings, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector was found to have the most negative impact on employee wellbeing. While it ranked as average in terms of physical health effects, it was the third-worst industry for mental health and the second-most disruptive to social life. Over half (56 per cent) of people working in this field reported experiencing stress and anxiety due to their job, while 53 per cent said their work negatively affected their social or family life.

Closely following were the accommodation & food services and healthcare & social work sectors, which tied for second place in terms of their adverse effects on worker wellbeing. Hospitality roles ranked consistently high for their impact on mental health and social life, while also having the highest rate of workplace injuries.

Healthcare, on the other hand, was the industry most likely to cause work-related ill health and had the most severe impact on mental health. Nearly three in five (61 per cent) of healthcare workers reported stress or anxiety as a direct result of their job.

Top 10 industries affecting employee wellbeing

1. Arts, recreation, and entertainment
2. Accommodation & food services
3. Healthcare & social work
4. Information & communication
5. Electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning supply
6. Construction
7. Administrative & support services
8. Education
9. Manufacturing
10. Finance & insurance

The least affected industries

At the other end of the spectrum, the science & technology sector was found to have the least negative impact on employee wellbeing. This industry reported the lowest number of work-related injuries and had the least effect on workers’ social lives, with only 32 per cent of employees stating that their job impacted their personal time.

Interestingly, workers in the electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning sector were the least likely to report mental health issues related to their career (16 per cent). However, this industry also had the highest levels of social disruption, with 73 per cent of workers saying their job interfered with their social and family life.

Across all industries, more than two in five (43 per cent) employees said they experienced work-related stress or anxiety. Additionally, 36 per cent reported that workplace stress had affected their physical health, and over a quarter (28 per cent) sought professional help for these issues.

When it comes to social life, a third (33 per cent) of workers admitted to missing important family or social events due to their job, while 27 per cent said their work had caused tension between themselves and their loved ones.

Commenting on the findings, Nick Higginson, CEO of Phoenix Health & Safety, said: “We spend such a large portion of our lives working, it’s important that our jobs don’t impact on our physical and mental health, and our social lives where possible.

“In some industries, physical hazards and dangers are unavoidable, and in these cases it’s vital that workers and supervisors in these jobs follow the appropriate health and safety regulations to the letter,” he added.

He concluded with some advice, stating that employees experiencing excessive stress and anxiety due to work, or noticing that their job is significantly affecting their social life and relationships, are advised to speak with their employer to explore alternative working arrangements that could improve their situation. If no improvements are made, they may need to consider changing jobs or even transitioning to a different career.