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Rising mental health and stress-related absenteeism in NL

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2026-09-24 05:07 UTC → 2026-09-28 11:01 UTC · added removed

Mental Rising mental health and stress-related absenteeism in the Netherlands NL

The Netherlands is experiencing a notable significant rise in absenteeism linked to mental health issues. and stress. Data from Arbo Unie indicates that absenteeism due to anxiety, mood, and substance disorders increased by 35.9 percent between 2023 and 2025, with a particularly sharp 63 percent rise among workers aged 25 to 35. In response to these trends Recent data from occupational health services ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare shows a 12 percent increase in lost workdays due to stress over the associated societal past year, contributing to a 49 percent increase over a five-year period. The duration of absence is notably high, averaging 257 days for stress-related issues and 338 days for burnout. Contributing factors include high workloads, financial costs, various Dutch stakeholders—including insurers, municipalities, the UWV, mental health services, concerns, and employer organizations—have caregiving responsibilities. Statistics indicate that women experience stress-related absenteeism at roughly twice the rate of men, often with longer durations of absence. In response, stakeholders signed the ‘Sterk door Werk’ covenant. This initiative aims covenant to move beyond simple reintegration by focusing focus on proactive prevention and early signaling prevention. Experts, including Robert Wondaal of Robidus Services, note that late intervention leads to help employees remain healthy and employed. Concurrently, employment the loss of talent in a tight labor market, arguing that early recognition of overload is more cost-effective than recovery efforts. Employment trends are also shifting. Statistics Netherlands reports that while While fewer workers are leaving for new jobs or businesses, forced businesses—dropping from approximately 42 percent in 2022 to over 38 percent in 2025—forced dismissals due to economic reasons have increased risen from nearly 5 percent to over 8 percent. Analysts suggest these shifts may be driven by labor market tightness and an aging workforce.

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  1. 2026-09-28 11:01 UTC Rising mental health and stress-related absenteeism in NL
  2. 2026-09-24 05:07 UTC Mental health absenteeism in the Netherlands

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