Systemic factors and declining emotional skills drive rising workplace burnout

Recent research indicates that employee burnout is driven by systemic institutional issues rather than just individual resilience. A white paper from the University of Phoenix, based on the 2025 Career Optimism Index, found that approximately 70% of workers with low professional autonomy report burnout, while two-thirds of employees facing career stagnation also experience it.

To combat this, the report suggests leaders focus on workload management, internal mobility, and transparent communication regarding technological changes like artificial intelligence. Practical measures include expanding mental health support, mentorship, and involving employees in decision-making processes.

Complementary data from the Six Seconds ‘2024 State of the Heart’ report shows that burnout-related metrics increased in 65% of examined workplace sectors between 2021 and 2023. Notably, the energy and oil sectors saw the largest decline in ‘Drive’ scores. This trend coincides with a peer-reviewed study of 28,000 adults across 166 countries, which reported a global decline in self-rated emotional intelligence skills, suggesting that a reduction in personal coping resources may be exacerbating the burnout crisis.