Six out of ten EU workers are stressed

Working hours for Europeans are decreasing but stress levels are rising, according to a major new study.

More than 30,000 workers in 31 countries took part in the survey conducted by the Dublin-based European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

The poll covered a wide range of issues, including work organisation, working time, training and job satisfaction.

The study found that six out of ten workers are happy with their working conditions but that stress levels are “worryingly” high.

Other main findings of the report are that the pace of work has intensified and that weekly working hours are decreasing.

Only a third of workers said that their job offers them good career prospects, while almost 33 per cent felt their health and safety was at risk because of their job.

The survey also found that more workers now use computers and the internet in their job and that opportunities for training at work are limited.

The 2005 survey took in the 27 EU member states, candidate countries Croatia and Turkey plus Norway and Switzerland.

The EU agency’s European working conditions survey has been conducted every five years since 1991.

Workers in Denmark are the most satisfied with their jobs (93.4 per cent) compared with an EU average of 62 per cent. 

The UK (92.7 per cent) is the next highest ranked EU country followed by the Netherlands (89.2 per cent). Lowest job satisfaction is in Romania, with just 56 per cent.

Workers in Sweden are the most stressed (85 per cent) – defined as working at high speed and to tight deadlines - followed by Finland (77 per cent).

The least stressed are Bulgarians (27 per cent) while the EU average is 59 per cent.

Agency director Jorma Karppinen said the report provides a “valuable” insight into key aspects of work.

“It paints a broad and varied picture of the physical, intellectual and psychological dimensions of work and its impact on personal fulfilment and work-life balance.”

Karppinen, a Finn, added, “Perhaps the main message is that European workers appear to be happy in their jobs and they say that work is a positive experience.

“One worrying thing, however, is that stress levels are not reducing and the effects of stress at work are starting to be felt in other ways, such as physical wellbeing of workers.

“The good news, though, is that, compared with our last report five years ago, workers now know more about health and safety at work.”

Responding to the survey, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said the findings highlight the “need for a new momentum” to European policy on working conditions.

“The results clearly show that poor working conditions have a negative impact on the health and safety of millions of European workers,” said a spokesman.

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