Fresh research from Unmind, a leading workplace mental health solutions provider, reveals that 30% of British Generation Z workers—equating to roughly 1.7 million young people—have been signed off work this year for mental health reasons.

This new data arrives as the Government urges young people to enter the workforce earlier, highlighting a stark disconnect between policy ambitions and the realities facing many of the nation’s newest recruits. The Office for National Statistics reports that the economic inactivity rate among those aged 16-24 has ticked up from 39% in 2019 to 41.2% in 2024. Against this backdrop, employers face mounting pressure to safeguard workers’ mental health to prevent productivity losses and ongoing absences.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Nick Taylor, chief executive and co-founder of Unmind, said: “The research clearly highlights the need for employers to step up and help their staff thrive—especially younger employees, who are disproportionately affected by mental health absences. Organisations must move beyond traditional approaches and embrace flexibility, innovation, and open dialogue to foster positive workplace cultures.