Singapore’s workforce battles burnout, highlighting need for stronger mental health support

About a third of Singapore’s workforce who participated in a voluntary online assessment reported experiencing work-related stress or burnout in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and partner organisations. The results were drawn from iWorkHealth, a free assessment tool launched in March 2021 in collaboration with the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH), the Institute of Mental Health, Changi Hospital, and the Health Promotion Board.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Shawn Huang cautioned that the figures may not fully reflect the broader workforce or sector-specific trends, as participation in the iWorkHealth assessment is optional for employers. “MOM does not systematically collect data on workplace burnout,” he said during a parliamentary session.

Huang was responding to questions from Dr Charlene Chan, who asked about the prevalence of employee burnout across industries and efforts to alleviate pressure, particularly in sectors facing labour shortages.

He noted that the proportion of employees reporting stress or burnout has remained relatively stable since the launch of iWorkHealth. To encourage wider adoption, MOM and the WSH Council are working with employers and the labour movement to help organisations better understand employees’ mental wellbeing and provide targeted support.

“While it is natural to feel overwhelmed at work from time to time, a conducive environment can help employees to reduce or overcome work stress,” Huang said, highlighting initiatives aimed at promoting workplace mental health.

These measures include the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Health and Wellbeing at Workplaces, which provides practical guidance to employers and outlines available support mechanisms. The WSH Council has also established a Wellbeing Champions Network, enabling organisations to share best practices and access training and resources to strengthen mental wellbeing at work.

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Huang emphasised the importance of sustainable career planning as a key factor in mitigating stress and burnout. He cited Career Health SG, an initiative under the SkillsFuture movement, which helps Singaporeans identify training and job opportunities aligned with their aspirations.

He said, “The tools and resources available can help jobseekers identify and seize opportunities to enter jobs that are more aligned with their aspirations and preferences, so that they can adopt a more sustainable pace of work and avoid the risk of burnout.”

In response to further questions about additional initiatives, Huang pointed to actionable guidance that supplements the tripartite advisory, such as templates for creating safe spaces for workplace conversations. He also highlighted the Total WSH programme, which offers organisations free access to mental wellbeing workshops, reported The Straits Times.