Burnout in 2025: Australia, USA and Europe Compared
Last updated: 1 December 2025
Every country has its own work culture, but burnout shows up almost everywhere. This page gives a simple, human overview of recent burnout data across Australia, the United States and major European countries.
Burnout at a glance
Different surveys use different questions, but the rough picture is:
- Australia – around half of workers report feeling burnt out or close to it.
- United States – similar numbers, with big costs to health and productivity.
- Europe – high levels of stress and exhaustion, with rising mental health leave.
Exact percentages vary by study, but the direction is clear: burnout isn’t a niche issue any more.
What’s driving burnout in Australia
- Staff shortages and restructures leaving teams permanently stretched.
- Cost‑of‑living stress on top of work expectations.
- Return‑to‑office and long commutes eating into recovery time.
What’s driving burnout in the US
- Long hours and “always hustling” culture.
- Limited paid leave or difficulty actually using it.
- Healthcare and job‑security worries that make stepping back feel risky.
What’s driving burnout in Europe
- Work intensification in both private and public sectors.
- Care and frontline roles under pressure from staffing shortages.
- Employees mentally checking out long before they quit.
Common threads across all three regions
- Too much work, too little control.
- Too little recognition, too much uncertainty.
- Not enough genuine recovery time away from devices and deadlines.
What you can do, wherever you live
You can’t personally rewrite labour law, but you can set boundaries, ask for clearer priorities and build micro‑rituals of recovery into your day.
Tools like Fried don’t fix the system, but they can help you notice what’s happening sooner and cope a little better while you figure out longer‑term changes.
Tags: Burnout statistics Australia USA Europe 2025 data