Data on Employee Burnout by Sector

16 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry tracks data on employee burnout by sector; (b) if so, which sectors have the highest levels of employee burnout leading to higher attrition; and (c) how can the Ministry both alleviate pressures in these sectors and channel jobseekers into areas where there is demand for manpower, while ensuring that working conditions remain sustainable.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not systematically collect data on workplace burnout. Notwithstanding this, to encourage employers to monitor the state of their workforce's well-being and address key work stressors, MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, in collaboration with the Institute of Mental Health, Changi General Hospital and the Health Promotion Board, have developed and made available iWorkHealth, a free online psycho-social assessment tool.

Based on anonymised and aggregated data of more than 15,000 employees from employers that took up iWorkHealth in 2024, one in three employees experienced work-related stress or burnout. The proportion has remained relatively stable since iWorkHealth was introduced in 2021. Given that participation in iWorkHealth is voluntary, the sample may not be fully reflective of the overall workforce or at the industry level. MOM and the WSH Council are working with tripartite partners to encourage greater adoption of iWorkHealth so that more employers can better understand their employees' state of mental well-being at work and offer relevant support.

While it is natural to feel overwhelmed at work from time to time, a conducive environment can help workers to reduce or overcome work stress. In addition to iWorkHealth, MOM has implemented a range of measures to promote mental well-being at the workplace. These include the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Health and Well-being at Workplaces, which offers practical guidance to employers and highlights available support measures, including a list of Employee Assistance Programme service providers and their areas of specialisation. Launched by the WSH Council, the Well-being Champions Network also facilitates the exchange of best practices among the participating companies and offers access to resources and training to strengthen workplace mental well-being.

Beyond efforts to promote the health and well-being of employees at the workplace, MOM also supports jobseekers in making informed career decisions. The Career Health SG initiative has been introduced under the SkillsFuture movement, to empower Singaporeans to develop resilient and fulfilling careers and achieve their aspirations through training, on-the-job learning and intentional career moves. The tools and resources available can help jobseekers identify and seize opportunities to enter jobs that are more aligned with their aspirations and preferences, so that they can adopt a more sustainable pace of work and avoid the risk of burnout.

Mr Speaker: Dr Chen.

Dr Charlene Chen (Tampines): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his response. I ask the question because I have a hunch on certain sectors that might be experiencing burnout and there could be some initiatives to help the sectors. So, I am very glad that there is iWorkHealth, the Well-being Champions Network and the Tripartite Advisory. I wonder if there are any other initiatives that can be targeted at both the employers and the employees to support mental well-being?

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong: I thank the Member for the question. MOM has worked with a range of partners, such as the WSH Council, to roll out a range of resources to support the companies in strengthening the well-being in the workplace. There are two areas that we can do more.

One initiative will be the Workbook on Workplace Mental Well-being, which supplements the Tripartite Advisory by providing additional and actionable guidance for employers, such as the ready-to-use templates for creating safe spaces for conversations. Another example is the Total Workplace Safety and Health Programme. This particular programme provides the organisations free access to mental well-being workshops.