Looking for a job is hard enough as it is. No one ever knows what it’s like to work for a company unless perhaps you know someone that works there. 

By analysing results from over 230,000 responses from frontline workers about their jobs, the Breakroom can reveal the most stressful jobs in the UK.

Midwives have the most stressful job in the UK, with almost 9 in 10 (89%) of midwives feeling stressed in the workplace. 

We’ve spoken to Harriet, a midwife from the West Midlands, who’s recently changed her career to become a health visitor. You can find more about Harriet and her role as a midwife here.

Here are some key stats

• 66% of frontline workers say they often feel stress at work jobs in healthcare and the public sector are revealed as the most stressful occupations with nine jobs taking a spot in the top 10 no doubt impacted by government cuts.
• Almost nine in every 10 (89%) midwives find their job stressful due to lack of resources and breaks, outdated equipment, low salary, and poor management.
• Over four in five (84%) social workers are stressed at work because of the lack of flexibility, excessive paperwork, unrealistic targets, and unpaid overtime.
• Over three quarters (77%) of prison officers are stressed in their job due to poor management and risk of violence, poor training, pressure, work-life balance and underpaid.
• Almost two thirds (62%) of Gen Zs are stressed at work.
• People aged 25–34 are most stressed at work (69%).

Anna Maybank, co-founder and CEO at Breakroom, comments on the research: ‘From this survey, we were able to reveal what jobs frontline staff rate highly and get the truth behind the job description. You would expect some of the roles listed to be amongst the most rewarding and not stressful. But this analysis reveals we need to do more across the country to address this balance, especially as young people are training to take on these roles.’

‘During the pandemic, we’ve seen frontline workers put themselves above others time and time again. Now, it’s time for the government to consider the impact of budget cuts on midwives, nurses and other social care practitioners before it’s too late and the number of applicants continues to decline to put the health of Brits at risk.’