Claims.co.uk analysed the data of the Health and Safety Executive to find out the prevalence and severity of stress, depression or anxiety that is caused by or made worse by work.
According to the study, police officers, especially constables and Sergeants, suffer from the most mental health problems related to their jobs, followed by social workers.
Police Officers – The most stressful job in the UK
Data shows that 6,500 police officers out of 100,000 in the UK reported mental health issues related to their jobs. It is estimated that 11,000 of the 169.231 police officers in the UK are affected, which is 6.5 percent. This rate is 242 percent above the national average of mental health problems related to work.
Social Workers Ranked Second
The second highest number of employees who reported mental health problems was social workers, with 6,100 out of 100,000 reporting that their job caused or worsened them. This rate represents 6.1 percent out of the 114 754 social workers in the UK. It is 221% above the average. Social workers are often exposed to emotionally draining situations and high-stakes decisions due to the nature of their profession.
Other High Stress Professions
Other occupations in the top ten included welfare and housing professionals (5.81%), community nurses (4.7%), and other nursing roles, such as clinical leaders and occupational health nurses (4.2%). The mental health of higher education lecturers and teaching professionals is also a major concern. 4.14 percent are affected.
Teachers of primary and secondary schools ranked seventh, and eighth respectively. Human resource managers, and administrators in national government completed the list.
Top 10 Stressiest Jobs in the UK
| Rank | Profession | Estimated People Affected | Total Number of Employees | Rate per 100,000 | % Affected Workforce | Increase over National Average |
| 1 | Police Officers (Sergeant or below) | 11,000 | 169,231 | 6,500 | 6.50% | +242% |
| 2 | Social Workers | 7,000 | 114,754 | 6,100 | 6.10% | +221% |
| 3 | Welfare and Housing Professionals | 8,000 | 137,694 | 5,810 | 5.81% | +206% |
| 4 | Community Nurses | 4,000 | 85,106 | 4,700 | 4.70% | +147% |
| 5 | Other Nursing Professionals | 16,000 | 380,952 | 4,200 | 4.20% | +121% |
| 6 | Teachers of Higher Education | 9,000 | 217,391 | 4,140 | 4.14% | +118% |
| 7 | Primary School Teachers | 16,000 | 414,508 | 3,860 | 3.86% | +103% |
| 8 | Secondary School Teachers | 15,000 | 442,478 | 3,390 | 3.39% | +78% |
| 9 | Human Resource Managers, Directors and Directorates | 7,000 | 212,121 | 3,300 | 3.30% | +74% |
| 10 | National Government Administrative Roles | 6,000 | 183,486 | 3,270 | 3.27% | +72% |
Nationwide Impact
In the UK, almost two out of fifty (1.9%) people report that their work has negatively impacted their mental health. This represents 636,000 people across all sectors. This is equivalent to 1,900 workers per 100,000.
The opposite end of the spectrum was found by the study, where only 1,120 out of 100,000 workers reported mental health problems, a rate that is 41 percent below the national average.
The findings point out the mental health challenges that workers in the most important and demanding jobs in the country face. They also highlight the need for more support and resources in order to reduce stress at work.
