Worker well-being declines as financial stress rises, survey finds

Portland, OR — The share of full-time U.S. workers reporting high well-being fell to 38.8% in 2026 from 43.4% in 2024, according to a WebMD Health Services survey of nearly 3,900 respondents. The percentage reporting low well-being rose to 27% from 19.5% over the same period.

Well-Being Metrics

Fewer workers indicated they were thriving compared with two years earlier. Physical well-being showed 57.3% of respondents rating their health as very good or excellent, which WebMD Health Services identified as the strongest area of employee well-being in 2026.

Financial Stress Findings

Financial stress emerged as the largest driver of the decline. Only 45.5% of respondents reported strong financial well-being. The results appear in Safety+Health Magazine.

Additional Survey Results

The most productive artificial intelligence users faced 4½ times greater risk for burnout than other workers. Individual contributors reported three times lower engagement than senior leaders. Middle managers carried the highest risk of burnout. Trust was one of the strongest predictors of both well-being and engagement, driven almost entirely by how supported employees felt, according to WebMD Health Services. The findings are detailed in the July 13, 2026 report from Safety+Health Magazine.

The survey examined workforce well-being and ways employers can support employees.