Work-Life Balance Statistics, Trends 2023

And attaining a healthy work-life balance in the US seems to be a distant dream. 

Without such, employees are absent from a lifestyle that provides adequate time for professional tasks while allocating sufficient time for other life aspects.

However, separating work and personal life is a challenge many employees face. In more recent times and specifically due to the pandemic, more and more find it difficult to strike the right balance.

This article presents many work-life balance statistics that provide a foundation to develop a better equilibrium amongst America’s stressed-out workforce.

Work-Life Balance Statistics 2023

Here are some interesting and insightful work-life balance stats that you should know.

• 48% of employed Americans believe they are workaholics. 
• 77% of Americans say that they experience burnout in their current careers. 
• 94% of US service industry professionals reportedly spend more than 50 hours at work each week.
• 95% of human resource experts believe that high employee turnover results from job burnout.
• Close to 53% of workers feel they need work-life balance for their total well-being. 
• Nearly 66% of workers admit that they have no work-life balance even though they recognize its needed.
• 67% of people had improved their work-life balance when they started working remotely.

Work-Life Balance General Facts 2023

1. 48% of Americans think they are workaholics.

(Apollo Technical)

According to work-life balance stats, about 48% of Americans strongly believe they belong to this obsessed group due to current labor trends. 

Many US employees spend more than four hours outside their average working hours, resulting in free labor for American companies.

Additionally, these workers spend the same amount of time worrying about the state of their work. 

2. 77% of Americans say they experience burnout in their current careers.

(Health Careers)

A study surveying 1,000 full-time employees found that about 77% of them reportedly experienced burnout. These astounding job burnout statistics relate to workers in their current positions. 

However, more than 50% of them shared that it wasn’t their first time feeling burnout. 

Additionally, 91% of the respondents found their jobs increasingly stressful, leading them to give low-quality results. Between 40 to 50% of full-time workers in various industries experience burnout at the national level. 

3. 94% of US service professionals reportedly spend more than 50 hours at work every week.

(Apollo Technical)

A recent study found that 94% of workers spent more than 50 hours at work each week. 

With 40 hours per week the standard, the extra ten hours of often unpaid work result in the deprioritization of personal activities and is indicative of a bad work-life balance.

4. 95% of human resource experts believe that high employee turnover results from job burnout.

(TonerBuzz)

The American Psychological Association reports that about 550 million working days are lost every year due to employee burnout. Mental exhaustion is a huge problem for many people in the US workforce. 

Most HR professionals believe that introducing modern HR practices and offering more executive support to staff members is key to reducing job burnout statistics.

5. Close to 53% of workers feel they need an improved work and life balance for their total wellbeing. 

(Fingerprint for Success)

A successful work-life balance often leads to greater motivation and interest to come to work. 

It also reduces stress levels and decreases the chances of experiencing burnout. That’s why companies must adopt measures designed to separate work and personal life. 

6. Nearly 66% of workers admit that they lack the work-life balance they need.

(TeamStage)

About 7 out of 10 full-time employees believe that they do not spend enough time on personal activities because of their demanding work schedules. 

And nearly 33% of US full-time workers work on holidays or weekends.  

7. 67% of people had improved their work-life balance when they started working remotely.

(TonerBuzz)

During the coronavirus pandemic, many full-time workers transitioned from commuting to the office to working from home. And 67% of them reportedly saw an increase in their work-life balance. 

Most workers now say that their work and home lives are reportedly better with improved mental and physical wellbeing.

Overworked Employees Statistics 2023

The status of American work-life balance is poor, with the US being the most overworked first-world nation. While many countries have laws covering standard work hours per week, America does not. More work causes stress and lowers your quality of life. Here are some overworked employee statistics worth knowing: 

8. In 2016, more than 745,000 people died from heart-related diseases due to overworking.

(Environment International)

According to a global study from the World Health Organization, more than 745,000 die from heart-related deaths. 

The leading risk factor for several occupational diseases is too much work. It can significantly affect a person’s mental and physical health. 

9. 43% of US workers feel that their employers care about work-life balance. 

(APA)

A survey revealed that 43% of workers felt that their employers strongly advocated for work-life balance.  

10. 39% say that the primary cause of their stress was a heavy workload.

(Statista)

A study from Statista covered the primary reasons for workplace stress, with the main cause being interpersonal issues, handling various tasks at once, bad work-life balance, and job security.  

11. 46% of workers think about joining the side-gig economy.

(Randstad USA)

There’s a current exponential rise in freelancing and contract work, coupled with the zeitgeist of being your own boss and setting your schedule. 

For these reasons, many workers are now considering switching to gig jobs to help reduce their work-induced stress and limit their workload. 

12. Men and women are reportedly handling their stress levels by drinking more caffeine, smoking, and exercising. 

(ADAA)

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 31% of workers tend to drink more coffee and 21% say they smoke when feeling stressed, while 25% say they exercise to reduce stress. 

Workplace Burnout Statistics 2023

Many employees reportedly experience the results of fatigue, stress, and other mental health challenges that come with workplace burnout. When left unchecked, workplace burnout can seriously affect a worker’s well-being. Employee burnout is a serious health issue that companies need to understand and address to help reduce its effects. Here are some workplace burnout statistics worth knowing.

13. 37% of workers say that they have worked longer hours since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

(Indeed)

While the shift to working from home has provided more flexibility, 37% of employees complain that they now work longer hours. 

They spend more hours in meetings and have to communicate with colleagues on more communication channels, further adding to their stress.

About 70% of workers claim that they now work weekends in addition to their 40-hour weeks. 

14. Employees experiencing burnout are 63% more likely to take a sick day and twice as likely to pursue other jobs. 

(Gallup)

Many companies face a burnout crisis that leads to high turnover rates. When employees burn out, they are more likely to use more sick days and typically feel less confident in their professional capabilities. 

Staff is also less willing to discuss performance goals with their managers. This often leads to workers searching for jobs with good work-life balance policies. 

15. 21% of workers claim to have had productive discussions with HR on handling burnout

(FlexJobs)

Having open and honest conversations with HR or your manager is a positive way to discuss and determine the best solutions for burnout. 

However, 55% of workers say that their HR reps tend not to encourage discussions on staff burnout. 

16. Managers are equally as likely to suffer frequent burnout as well.

(Gallup)

Managers are just as likely to suffer from burnout as employees. After all, they’re people too.

And because they are responsible for administrating others, managers have an important role in reducing employee burnout. Good managers know their team’s limitations, as well as their own.  

17. 38% of virtual workers are more likely to experience burnout than onsite workers.

(Indeed)

Despite claims that working from home is much better for a positive work-life balance, many say that working virtually has worsened their burnout since the pandemic.

Wrap Up

These work-life balance statistics highlight the need for more organizational intervention. With so much employee burnout and general workplace stress, employee work-life balance must become a priority.  

Companies must ensure that they actively listen to feedback from employees to create more jobs with good work-life balance and improve their workplace. After all, workers are the heart of every company’s achievement.