Burnout has long been discussed as a modern workplace epidemic, but a new study makes it clear that not everyone is equally at risk. Research conducted by Westfield Health has found that women working in healthcare, education, and hospitality face a disproportionately high chance of reaching a state of complete emotional and physical exhaustion. What’s especially alarming is that many women don’t recognize the warning signs until the damage is already done. The findings shine a much-needed spotlight on the specific pressures that certain professions place on women.
According to Westfield Health expert Cathy Lawson, burnout is widely misunderstood and often dismissed as simple tiredness. “Burnout isn’t just feeling tired. It’s a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, which can damage your ability to work, your relationships, and your physical health,” she explained. Lawson noted that the condition is becoming increasingly common among working women and that its consequences extend well beyond the office. Recognizing it early, she stressed, is one of the most important things a person can do for their long-term wellbeing.
The numbers from the study are striking. Two in five women in the workforce say they frequently or constantly feel like they are on the edge of burning out, compared to fewer than one in three men. In some specific sectors, the situation is even more severe. Women in healthcare and social care, including nurses, caregivers, and social workers, reported the highest rates, with 49 percent saying they feel burned out. Close behind were women working in retail, transport, and hospitality at 48 percent, followed by those in public administration and education, such as teachers and civil servants, at 43 percent.
Lawson pointed to the emotionally and physically demanding nature of these roles as a key driver of those figures. “Nurses, teachers, caregivers, and other women who work with people give so much of themselves every single day,” she said. She added that limited flexibility, fewer opportunities to rest and recover, and heavy responsibility without adequate support all combine to create the perfect conditions for burnout to take hold. These are jobs where the emotional labor is often invisible, yet relentless.
Beyond the workplace itself, the research also highlighted how pressures outside of work amplify the risk for women. Lawson described what she called an invisible burden that many women carry long after their shifts end. “Many women also carry additional, invisible labor outside of work, caring for others, managing households, and providing emotional support to family and friends. That work doesn’t stop when the workday ends,” she said. She was direct about what this constant, all-encompassing pressure leads to: “When you’re under that much sustained pressure in every area of your life, it becomes very hard to truly recover. And without recovery, burnout becomes almost inevitable.”
To help those who feel they may be approaching their limit, Lawson outlined three practical steps. The first is to have an open conversation with an employer, specifically to ask about employee assistance programs, which often include free counseling and mental health support. Employers may also be willing to adjust workloads, introduce more flexible hours, or make other temporary accommodations. The second step is to visit a primary care physician, since while burnout is not a formal clinical diagnosis, it can overlap with conditions like anxiety where professional help can make a real difference. The third step involves making changes in daily life wherever possible, focusing on getting quality sleep, eating a balanced diet, and taking regular breaks throughout the day as a way to better manage ongoing stress.
Burnout as a concept was first formally described by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974, who used the term to describe the depletion he observed among volunteers at a free clinic. The World Health Organization recognized burnout as an occupational phenomenon in its International Classification of Diseases in 2019, defining it as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, and reduced professional effectiveness. While burnout can affect anyone, research has consistently shown that professions involving high emotional demands and direct care of others carry the greatest risk. Women globally continue to shoulder a larger share of both paid caregiving work and unpaid domestic responsibilities, which researchers say helps explain why the gender gap in burnout rates persists across so many countries and industries.
If you’ve experienced burnout in your own career or have thoughts on why certain industries seem to push people past their limits, share your perspective in the comments.
