Retail industry shows higher employee stress levels than average

A survey conducted by Advantage Risk Management reveals that the retail industry faces higher levels of employee stress compared to the overall average. Based on data from the ‘Advantage Toughness White Paper 2026’, which analyzed up to 898,095 responses between December 2024 and November 2025, the high-stress rate in the retail sector was 11.0%, exceeding the general average of 9.7%.

The analysis shows that 22.1% of retail workers fall into the ‘exhausted’ category (characterized by poor physical/mental condition and low engagement), while only 14.3% are classified as ‘energetic’ (good condition and high engagement). This is notably lower than the general trend for high engagement.

Experts suggest several industry-specific factors contribute to these results, including diverse employment types that make organizational unity difficult, high psychological loads from customer interactions, and the challenges of managing dispersed locations and shift-based work schedules. The report emphasizes the need for better communication and continuous support systems to address these mental health and engagement challenges.