GENEVA — More than 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks in the workplace, including long working hours, job insecurity, and harassment, according to a new global report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), as reported by Antigua News Room.
The findings, released ahead of World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2026, show that work-related psychosocial risks are primarily associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders, including suicide.
The report also finds that these risks account for nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years — known as DALYs — lost annually. DALYs measure years of healthy life lost due to illness, disability, or premature death. The ILO estimates the economic toll of these risks at approximately 1.37 per cent of global GDP each year.
The report, titled The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action, examines the growing impact of how work is designed, organised, and managed on workers' overall safety and health. It warns that psychosocial risk factors — including high job demands paired with low worker control, and workplace bullying and harassment — can create harmful working environments if left unaddressed.
The ILO's findings underscore the urgent need for governments, employers, and worker organisations to take meaningful action to identify and mitigate psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
