Young, employed and overwhelmed: 41% of workers under 35 battle daily stress

They were expected to lead the future of work: ambitious, tech-savvy and adaptable. A generation ready to reshape workplaces and challenge the old rules. But instead of thriving, millions of workers under 35 are buckling under the weight of daily pressure.According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2025 report, 41% of employees in this age group said they spend much of their average workday feeling stressed. The workplace, once imagined as a space for growth, creativity, and connection, is, for many, becoming a primary source of anxiety.This surge in stress isn’t just about long hours or high workloads. It reflects a deeper, more systemic strain: a generation facing emotional fatigue at the very moment they’re expected to be most driven, most dynamic, and most optimistic.

The global stress epidemic: A snapshot

Gallup’s data paints a troubling picture of a generation under pressure across the globe. While the global average for daily stress sits at 40%, the burden weighs more heavily on workers under 35, with 41% of them reporting that they feel stressed “a lot” on a workday.The pattern holds across continents, though some regions show even sharper spikes. In the United States and Canada, the number rises dramatically, 50% workers say they experience significant stress, making it one of the most affected demographics globally.

In Australia and New Zealand, stress levels among younger workers remain high, mirroring patterns seen in the broader workforce, where 49% of employees overall report daily stress. In East Asia, including advanced economies like South Korea and Japan, stress among young professionals has been compounded by intense work cultures, where 48% of employees reported high stress.In regions like the Middle East and North Africa, where 48% of employees overall report daily stress, younger workers face added pressure from economic instability and limited job mobility.

Meanwhile, in Sub-Saharan Africa, the stress rate stands at 47%, driven by rapid demographic changes and labor market volatility that leave young workers in precarious positions.At the other end of the spectrum, South Asia and Southeast Asia report lower average stress levels — 31% and 25%, respectively — though that doesn’t mean younger workers in these regions are immune. In fact, these numbers may reflect cultural underreporting or different baselines of emotional expression rather than genuine differences in mental strain.

Why are young workers so stressed?

Unfortunately, rising stress levels at work have become all too familiar — especially for those in traditional 9-to-5 roles. But for younger employees, this pressure is reaching unsustainable levels. Gallup’s latest findings suggest that a perfect storm of economic uncertainty, job insecurity, digital overload, and weak managerial support is intensifying stress for the under-35 workforce across the globe.Several factors are fueling this generational stress surge:

Remote and restless

One surprising insight from Gallup’s 2025 report is the role of the work environment. While remote work was expected to improve wellbeing, stress and loneliness remain highest among remote and hybrid workers, especially among younger employees.For instance, 25% of workers under 35 globally reported feeling lonely during much of the previous day, compared to 20% of older colleagues.

The digital freedom of remote work can come at the cost of social connection — a key buffer against stress.

What employers can do

Gallup’s research doesn’t just highlight the problem; it points toward solutions. The report emphasizes the critical role of managers and leadership in employee wellbeing. Unfortunately, only 44% of managers globally have received formal management training, and young managers are among the most disengaged groups in the workplace.By investing in manager development, regular coaching, and clearer pathways for growth, employers can help reduce disengagement and alleviate stress. In fact, Gallup estimates that closing the engagement gap could unlock up to $9.6 trillion in global productivity.

One generation’s stress, everyone’s responsibility

Stress may be the most measurable symptom of a much deeper issue: a generation that feels unsupported, undervalued, and unprepared to navigate a work culture in flux.

If employers don’t take these signals seriously, they risk not just a talent drain — but a collapse in motivation, innovation, and resilience.

But if leaders act now with empathy, investment, and strategy, they can help turn this pressure into purpose. Because the same generation under stress is also the one most capable of driving the future forward if they’re given the tools and support to thrive.