Workers in southern Europe report some of the highest stress levels on the continent, with Cyprus ranking among the most affected, according to a new global workplace study.
The findings come from Gallup’s 2026 State of the Global Workplace report, which also warns that disengaged and stressed employees could reduce global productivity by up to 9% of GDP.
Southern Europe tops stress levels
The data shows a clear regional pattern, with southern European countries reporting the highest levels of workplace stress.
Greece ranks first at 61%, followed by Malta (57%), Cyprus (56%), Italy (51%) and Spain (47%).
By contrast, some of the lowest stress levels are recorded in northern and eastern Europe, including Denmark (19%), Poland (22%) and Lithuania (23%).
According to the report, the most stressed employees are typically managers under the age of 35 working in hybrid environments.
Europe less stressed but less engaged
Despite high stress in certain countries, Europe overall remains less stressed than other regions globally. However, it also continues to record the lowest levels of employee engagement for a sixth consecutive year.
Globally, only 20% of workers describe themselves as engaged in their jobs, the lowest level recorded since 2020.
At the same time, the United States and Canada show a contrasting trend, with the most engaged but also among the most stressed workforces.
Low engagement across key economies
Within Europe, engagement levels remain particularly low in several countries.
Croatia and Poland record just 7%, followed by France and Switzerland (8%), Luxembourg, Ireland and Austria (9%).
Larger economies such as Spain and the United Kingdom stand at 10%, while Germany and Italy reach 11%.
In contrast, Albania (32%), Romania (31%), Sweden (25%) and Malta (25%) report some of the highest engagement levels on the continent.
Gallup data suggests that the least engaged employees are generally under 35, in non-managerial roles and without access to remote or hybrid work.
Rise of “quiet quitting”
The report also highlights a growing share of workers who are not only disengaged but actively disconnected.
Around 15% of employees globally fall into this category, often referred to as “quiet quitting”, meaning they deliberately withdraw psychologically from their work and workplace.
Gallup notes that global engagement has now declined for two consecutive years, with the sharpest drop recorded in South Asia.
Wellbeing remains relatively strong
Despite low engagement, European workers report higher levels of overall wellbeing compared to the global average.
Around 49% say they are “thriving”, significantly above the global figure of 34%.
Countries such as Finland (81%), Iceland (78%) and Denmark (78%) rank highest in terms of wellbeing across Europe.
Optimism about jobs persists
A majority of European workers remain optimistic about job prospects, with 57% saying it is a good time to find a job, compared to 52% globally.
The Netherlands leads with 86%, while Slovakia records the lowest level at 32%.
Globally, Southeast Asia emerges as the most optimistic region at 64%, while the Middle East and North Africa ranks lowest at 36%.
Source: Lifo.gr - Euronews