Japan Registers Historic Spike in Deaths and Health Issues Attributed to Overwork During Fiscal Year 2024
In 2024, Japan witnessed a significant rise in work-related mental health disorders, with a record 1,057 recognized cases. This marked the first time that the number of cases surpassed 1,000, out of a total of 1,304 recognized cases of overwork-related incidents that year [1].
The causes behind this surge are multifaceted. The most common cause was power harassment, with 224 cases reported. Other significant factors included major changes in duties or workload (119 cases), customer harassment (108 cases), sexual harassment (105 cases), and exposure to traumatic work-related accidents or disasters (87 cases) [1].
The cases were almost evenly split between men (552) and women (503) [1]. Over 90% of the cases involved workers aged between 20 and 59, with those in their 40s forming the largest group with 283 cases [1].
The industries most affected were the healthcare and welfare sector (270 cases), manufacturing (161 cases), wholesale and retail trade (120 cases), transportation and postal services (110 cases), and construction (81 cases) [1].
Stress and anxiety related to work remain widespread, with over 82% of employed individuals reporting severe work-related stress in a 2022 survey [2]. The Japanese government has implemented work style reforms, including limits on overtime and mandatory workplace stress assessments. However, compliance remains incomplete, with only about 65% of companies conducting annual stress checks by 2021 [2].
Mental health issues are increasingly recognized as a serious workplace problem, prompting initiatives for improved health management and mental health interventions [2][5]. This data underscores workplace power harassment and workload changes as primary drivers of the rise in mental health disorders, affecting both genders predominantly in the prime working ages within healthcare and manufacturing industries. Despite reforms, excessive workloads and workplace harassment continue to pose significant risks to worker mental health in Japan in 2024 [1][2].
References:
[1] Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. (2025). White Paper on Overwork-Related Deaths and Industrial Accidents. Retrieved from https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000618209.pdf
[2] Japan Times. (2022, December 1). More than 8 in 10 workers in Japan suffer from severe work-related stress, survey finds. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/12/01/national/more-8-workers-japan-suffer-severe-work-related-stress-survey-finds/
[3] The Mainichi. (2023, March 1). Government report shows over 1,000 cases of work-related mental health disorders in Japan for first time. Retrieved from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230301/p2a/00m/0na/011000c
[4] NHK World. (2023, April 1). Japan's work style reforms incomplete, leaving many employees at risk of overwork. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230401_27/
[5] World Health Organization. (2023). Mental Health at Work. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/
- In response to the rising number of work-related mental health disorders in 2024, the Japanese government has initiated work style reforms, focusing on limits on overtime and mandatory stress assessments in the workplace.
- A survey in 2022 revealed that over 82% of employed individuals in Japan reported severe work-related stress, indicating a widespread issue.
- The industries most impacted by work-related mental health disorders in 2024 were healthcare and welfare, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and postal services, and construction.
- As the primary drivers of the surge in mental health disorders, workplace power harassment and changes in workload have been recognized as serious concerns in the health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and mental health sectors.
