Skilled trades employees have the lowest reported rates of stress – is it time to speak up?

  Posted by: electime      19th May 2025

Less than 1 per cent of employees in the skilled work trade reported stress, anxiety and depression last year

• In total, approximately 776,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety last year – that’s around 2,260 cases per 100,000 employees – according to data from HSE.
• But the skilled trade industry reported the fewest cases, with only 720 reports of stress, anxiety and depression per 100,000 employees.
• Clinical counsellor shares advice on how to deal with workplace stress and avoid taking it home.

The experts at Confused.com life insurance analysed reports of work-related stress, anxiety and depression across different industries, revealing which professions reported the fewest cases over the last 12 months.

In total, around 776,000 workers reported stress, anxiety and depression symptoms in the past year – that’s equivalent to 2,260 per 100,000 workers in the UK, according to HSE data.

But some industries reported well below this national figure, with those in skilled trades reporting just 720 cases per 100,000 employees in 2023/24. In fact those in these roles, such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, had the lowest reported instances of stress, anxiety, and depression of any industry.

At a glance it would seem like these roles were amongst the least stressful in the country – but is this actually an issue of people not wanting to disclose that they’re struggling?

While discussions around mental health have made great strides in recent years, it’s still something many struggle to talk about, especially when it comes to officially reporting issues in your workplace as these stats suggest.

Here’s the list of the 5 industries with the lowest reported cases of stress, anxiety, and depression:

How does workplace stress actually affect us?

With workplace stress affecting thousands of employees daily, Confused.com has teamed up with Nilou Esmaeilpour, Clinical Director & Registered Clinical Counsellor at Lotus Therapy, to shed light on how long-term stress can impact our mental wellbeing.

Nilou comments, “Our mental health can be very badly affected by stress, as chronic stress disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate mood, memory, and decision-making. I have worked with clients who, after months of high work pressure, tight deadlines, and no downtime, developed anxiety disorders or symptoms of depression. The longer the stress goes on without any healthy coping strategies in place, the more possible serious mental health issues it can help create, such as panic attacks or emotional burnout.

“The high levels of stress activate the sympathetic nervous system, keeping the body always poised in ‘fight or flight’. This commonly translates into a fast-beating heart, increased blood pressure, muscle tension, and sometimes insulin resistance.”

It’s far from all being negative though:

“However, culture has changed positively; many people have begun speaking of burnout and mental health, and the employers are also beginning to respond with days off related to mental wellbeing and wellness programs.”

Tips on managing work related stress

Figure out a good working pattern: Having a healthy working pattern can help keep stress in check. Taking regular breaks and avoiding the urge to tackle your entire to-do list at once is key. Nilou advises:

“To manage stress in the workplace involves very deliberate pauses and preventive behaviour. I normally recommend the Pomodoro Technique: focus for 25 minutes and have 5 minutes of a break; this really contributes to maintaining one’s mental freshness and reduces fatigue. It is also beneficial for clients to go out for just two minutes to soak in the sunlight and fresh air, just a small thing that’s been shown to decrease cortisol levels.”

Have an end-of-workday ceremony: Creating a clear boundary between work and personal time can help your brain switch-off. One simple way to do this is by building a small ritual into the end of your day. Nilou notes:

“An end-of-workday ceremony is one of the immediate measures you can do to be sure to leave work at the office. To do this, you may want to slip into something cosy, listen to a favourite playlist during your commute home, or take a brief walk outside before entering your home scenario if working at home.

Prioritise a healthy lifestyle: Looking after your health can make a real difference when it comes to managing work-related stress. Regular exercise, a balanced diet and enough sleep all help support your mood and energy levels, making everyday pressures easier to handle.

Sticking to healthy habits can also benefit your physical health, which might help you save money on your life insurance policy. Taking small, consistent steps can help you feel more in control and better equipped for a busy working life.

Write down a ‘shutdown list’ at the end of the day: We’re all likely familiar with writing a long list for the day ahead, but a ‘shutdown’ list at the end of it can be just as helpful.  Nilou recommends:

“I have also seen clients who benefit from writing down ‘shutdown lists’ at the end of the day: three items for the next day and one for the accomplishment of the current day. All of this helps close the mental loop.”

Tom Vaughan, life insurance expert at Confused.com comments: “The level at which our jobs can affect our stress levels can’t be understated. Whether you’re in full-time or part-time employment, our careers are a big part of our lives and can contribute to our stress levels no matter what industry you work in. Therefore, it’s important to ensure you have access to support systems both in and out of work if you feel that your stress levels are reaching their limit.

“Even those in roles that they would consider relatively stress-free can let things accumulate, so knowing what to do in that situation is vital. Thankfully both employers and employees are becoming more aware and understanding of stress on the whole. And while there’s still a long way to go, we’re hoping that we can have a future where stress is treated with the care it deserves. Spotting signs of stress early on can help to prevent the long-term effects it can have on both our mental and physical wellbeing, supporting a healthier, more balanced relationship with our careers overall.”