Workplace Stress Is at a Record High. Here's What's Causing It. Stress is the new normal, a new study reveals.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

From fears of a robot uprising to the rocky political climate, stress has reached an all-time high and it's coming from both in and outside the workplace.

According to a recent study by Udemy that surveyed more than 1,000 full-time employees in the U.S., more than half of participants said they feel more stressed today than they did one year ago. Not only that, but 60 percent of employees report being stressed all or most of the time at work.

Related: Stress Kills! 5 Ways to Keep Your Stress Levels Low.

And this stress comes from a lot of places. In the office, the top stress factor for employees is the fear that they'll lose their jobs to technology. A whopping 55 percent are worried that AI and new tech will replace them. Outside the office, the top stressor stems from the current political climate (28 percent). To most people today, politics turns out to be more stressful than personal finance and family responsibilities.

It turns out that millennials are the most stressed-out generation too. Two-thirds of surveyed millennial workers said they are stressed out all or most of the time at work. In fact, 30 percent said they are "significantly" more stressed than they were a year ago. According to the report, "that's because they have a longer career runway ahead and will be the ones on the front lines as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation become even greater threats to traditional employment."

Workplace stress isn't cheap either, and that goes for both employers and employees. Forty-two percent of those surveyed are paying for online skills courses and bootcamps out of their own pockets. However, most would prefer employers to take the initiative and offer training programs instead. Ninety-five percent of millennials and gen Xers surveyed said they believe that company-provided professional development programs, skills training and reskilling is important for their long-term career success and well-being.

Related: 10 Effective Ways to Beat Stress

According to the study, researchers estimate workplace stress accounts for up to $190 billion in healthcare costs. To drive these costs down, 72 percent of millennial employees said they believe that companies should provide wellness initiatives to workers. It makes sense too -- today nearly half of every surveyed age group (millennials, gen X and baby boomers) say they meditate or exercise to reduce stress, and many invest in therapy or outside counseling.

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Marketing

Why Top Brands Use Push Notifications to Boost Engagement

Drive conversions and retention with Feedify's powerful push tools.

Business News

Astronomer's CEO and HR Chief Were Placed on Leave After the Coldplay Kiss-Cam Scandal. Here's How the Unicorn Tech Company Has Responded.

Astronomer responded after its top leadership went viral during the usually cute "kiss cam" segment of Coldplay's show.

Science & Technology

5 AI Tools Doing Overtime So You Can Run a Profitable Solo Business (Without Losing Your Mind)

Most entrepreneurs are using AI to save time — but that's not where the real leverage is.

Side Hustle

I Took My Side Hustle Full-Time and Made $222,000 Last Year. Here's How — and Why Sometimes I Work Just 10 Hours a Week.

Carter Osborne launched his side business in 2017 to help with his tuition payments for graduate school.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

The CEO of the World's Most Valuable Company Says This Would Be His College Major in 2025

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang graduated with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University in 1984, but he would change that major if he were in college today.