Low energy levels common among women and young people in the workplace

"No matter what you spend your days doing, energy levels play a central role in both productivity and performance. Perceived low energy can be an early sign of ill health, says Åsa Miemois, Health Developer at Falck.

The survey "Energy levels in working life" is based on 22,963 health and work environment profiles conducted from the first of January 2023 to the end of December 2023 across the country. Health and work environment profiles are a mapping tool that provides a broad health perspective with a focus on what can improve the health of the employees and the organization.

Three out of ten employees experience reduced energy levels

The survey shows that almost 30% of employees in Sweden experience reduced energy levels. This corresponds to about 1.5 million employees recalculated based on the fact that there were about 5.2 million people employed in Sweden in 2023.

More women than men experience reduced energy levels. Among women, it is 37.5%, while among men, it is 25%, who experience reduced energy levels.   

"There are probably several explanations for the fact that more women than men estimate that they have reduced energy levels: how much we place on ourselves and our lives. How much unpaid work we do both at work but mainly perhaps outside of work. There is work to be done here to support and talk about differences and similarities in life and working life between individuals," says Åsa Miemois.  

Younger employees experience a greater lack of energy than employees over the age of 30. The best energy levels are found in employees over the age of 50.  

Fatigue and lack of energy are the most common symptoms

Among the problems and symptoms of low energy, fatigue and lack of energy are the most common.

A total of 56% state that they have experienced fatigue much of the time in the past four weeks. Just over 42% state that they have lacked stamina and energy at a level that could pose a risk. One in three people experience emotional exhaustion and one in four physical exhaustion at risk level.  

"The risk for many people who experience an energy impairment is that we end up in a catch-22: that work or private life takes so much energy that we don't have the energy to do what increases our energy and then we get even lower energy." says Åsa Miemois. 

Broken down by gender, women show higher risk levels in all disorders than men. Among women, 44% say they have felt emotionally exhausted in the past four weeks, while the corresponding figure for men is 27%. As many as 65% of women have experienced fatigue, and more than one in two women have felt that they lacked energy much of the time. Among men, 52% have felt fatigue and 38% have experienced a lack of energy much of the time. Physical exhaustion is the symptom where the differences between women and men are the smallest.  

Young employees are more likely to report energy impairment. Around 65% of respondents under the age of 30 say they have felt fatigue much of the time in the last four weeks. Almost one in two under the age of 30 state that they have experienced a lack of energy much of the time. At the same time, young people stand out as the group that experiences physical exhaustion to the greatest extent. Among young people, about one in three experience some type of physical exhaustion much of the time. Employees over the age of 50 are those with lowest physical or mental fatigue/exhaustion. 

Social work environment, stress and motivation impact energy levels

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between energy levels and working life factors, we have cross-read a number of working life factors and conditions with energy levels. In the cross-analysis, we have paired perceived energy levels with employees' experience of a number of other work-related questions.  

The analysis shows that of those who rate their work environment as poor, over 62% have a reduced energy level much of the time. Of those who rate their work environment as good, only 25% have reported a reduced energy level much of the time.  

Also in terms of stress and energy levels, there is a correlation in the survey. More than four out of five (82%) of those who experience high stress also experience reduced energy levels much of the time. Of those who experience low stress, only 15 percent have a reduced energy level much of the time.  

Similar numbers can be seen in terms of motivation and energy levels. Two out of three people with a lack of motivation also experience reduced energy levels much of the time. Of those highly motivated, only 25% experience some form of reduced energy level much of the time.  

"Our study shows a connection between reduced energy levels and the social and organizational work environment. There is a strong incentive for employers to work with their systematic work environment management to promote a good work environment, which can then spill over into the employees' energy – which in turn gives back good performance to the employer. says Åsa Miemois.

About the report

The survey "Energy levels in working life" is based on 22,963 health and work environment profiles conducted from January 1, 2023 to the end of December 2023 across the country. Health and Work Environment Profiles is a mapping tool that deals with lifestyle habits, musculoskeletal disorders, well-being and the social and organisational work environment. It is a type of health examination that gives employees the opportunity to find out how lifestyle habits, physical problems, fitness and work environment affect well-being. The health and work environment profile provides a broad health perspective with a focus on what can improve the health of the employee and the organization.  

In the survey "Energy levels in working life", we have delved into the part of the health and work environment profile that maps energy levels. When the respondents completed the health and work environment profile, they answered a number of questions based on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (the scale for personal burnout) and were about the degree of physical and mental fatigue/exhaustion. The combined answers create an index that shows whether the respondent suffers from a reduced energy level or risk of physical fatigue.  And if you don't know what to do, you'll be burned 

The survey "Energy levels in working life" focuses on an issue that engages leaders, companies and organizations more and more: That what energy levels look like in groups and individuals to a large extent affects health, well-being and performance.  

About Falck 

With 1,000 experts at nearly 100 units across the country, Falck is Sweden's most complete provider of health and work life services. We offer occupational health care, crisis and personal support, transition and career services, as well as primary health care and health services for private individuals. Our health and work life services reach 1.2 million people across Sweden and contribute to a sustainable working life and private life for all.  

Previa, Sweden's largest occupational health service, has been part of the Falck Group since 2014. In January 2023, Previa ceased to exist as a name and brand, and the former Previa is now completely under the Falck brand.  

Read more on falcksverige.se  

For more information, please contact

Peter Skald, Head of Communications, +46 (0)70 413 08 13, peter.skald@falcksverige.se 

Sandra Ahlstrand, Communications Officer, +46 (0)70 635 89 62, sandra.ahlstrand@falcksverige.se