More than one in four Danish workers have considered quitting their job due to stress or workplace dissatisfaction, according to a new survey. The findings come as Denmark faces a broader debate about whether stress levels are soaring or overstated, and whether employers are doing enough to keep people from walking out the door.
Summer vacation is over. For many Danes, that means stress is back. A survey conducted by analysis firm Verian for insurance company If shows that 26 percent of workers have considered leaving their job or changing careers in the past year because of stress or poor mental health at work. The survey included 663 respondents and is statistically representative.
The numbers vary by region. In North Jutland, 31 percent have had these thoughts. In the Capital Region and Zealand, it is 27 percent. Among women aged 30 to 44, the figure climbs to 37 percent. That group stands out as the most likely to consider leaving.
Why It Matters
I have lived in Denmark long enough to know that job hopping is not unusual here. But when a quarter of the workforce is thinking about leaving because of stress, that is not just churn. That is a red flag. It suggests that many workplaces are failing to address the root causes of employee burnout.
Kasper Baunkjær Olsen, head of personal insurance at If, put it bluntly. When one in four people considers quitting due to stress, it signals that some employers are not managing the problem. Chronic stress raises the risk of depression and cardiovascular disease. Companies also risk losing skilled staff.
The Cost of Stress
Research from Denmark’s National Research Centre for the Working Environment estimates that stress related absenteeism costs Danish workplaces at least 16.4 billion kroner annually. That figure is widely cited, though employer group Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening disputes the calculation. DA argues that the real number of workers with severe, clinical stress is closer to six percent, not 25 percent.
The disagreement is not just academic. It shapes policy and workplace interventions. If stress affects every fourth worker, the solution requires broad cultural change across Danish workplaces. If it affects six percent, targeted support for those individuals may suffice. Either way, the numbers are significant.
Who Is Hit Hardest
Young women are at the front of the line. Ministry of Employment data from June 2025 shows that workers aged 25 to 34, particularly women, report the highest stress levels. Nearly one in five employees now feels stressed, the highest rate in a decade.
Dansk Sundhedssikring, owned by If, notes that many managers are unsure how to handle mental health issues. Psychological struggles remain a private matter for many Danes. That reluctance to talk openly makes early intervention harder. DSS has set up a Leader Line to offer managers guidance on supporting struggling employees.
Not Just About Being Busy
It is tempting to assume stress is simply about workload. But research from Akademikernes A-kasse shows that is not the full story. While 17 percent of workers feel stressed, the top causes are lack of professional development, poor relationships with managers, and tasks that do not fit their skills. Only 20 percent cite poor work life balance.
That aligns with what I see around me. Danes value autonomy and purpose at work. When those are missing, people do not just feel overworked. They feel stuck. And they start looking for the exit.
What Employers Can Do
If and DSS are urging companies to focus on mental health now, right after the holiday period. Summer can prompt people to take stock of their working lives. That makes early autumn a critical moment for managers to check in.
The recommendations are straightforward. Use data from performance reviews or sick leave statistics to spot patterns. Watch for changes in mood or behavior. Create space for dialogue about stress. When problems arise, agree on concrete action and follow up regularly.
One major point from DA’s research stands out. Among workers with high stress, 58 percent are dissatisfied with their mental health, 37 percent with their job, and 28 percent with their finances. Stress is rarely just about work. It spills over into health, relationships, and money. That makes it harder to solve and harder to escape, even when leaving feels necessary.
The Bigger Picture
Separate data from Randstad shows that 24 percent of Danish employees plan to change jobs within the next six months. Good work life balance and a healthy work environment are now top priorities for 63 percent of job seekers. Employers who ignore mental health risk losing talent to competitors who take it seriously.
For expats working in Denmark, these numbers matter. The Danish labor market values flat hierarchies and employee voice, but that does not make it immune to stress or poor management. If you are struggling, you are not alone. And if you are thinking about leaving, the data suggests you are part of a much larger trend.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: How do I find work in Denmark?
The Danish Dream: What’s Danish work culture like?
The Danish Dream: Work in Denmark opportunities and insights for an international
Ritzau: Hver fjerde dansker har overvejet at skifte job på grund af stress
