APAC employees feel more supported at work but stress levels remain a concern, survey shows

Employees in APAC reported a drop in their ability to manage stress, falling from 60% in 2023 to 58% in 2024.

Employees across APAC are feeling more supported at work, yet rising stress levels present a growing challenge, according to Intellect’s latest Workplace Wellbeing 360 Report 2025.

Based on data from 50,000 employees across 182 countries, the report explores the evolving relationship between mental health and productivity at work. It dives into four key components of workplace wellbeing: employee wellbeing, organisational support, work engagement, and employee productivity. The goal is to compare workplace wellbeing across 10 industries globally and help organisations assess their own standing against local and global peers.

A snapshot of the report findings is as follows:

Employee wellbeing

The report highlights a 1.5% year-on-year increase in employee perceptions of organisational support in APAC, aligning the region with others worldwide. This improvement is mirrored by positive trends in mental wellbeing and resilience, a contrast to the global decline in these areas.

Organisational support

Despite the rise in support, stress management remains a pressing issue. Employees in APAC reported a drop in their ability to manage stress, falling from 60% in 2023 to 58% in 2024. This mirrors global patterns and signals an urgent need for employers to implement targeted initiatives that address stress and foster a healthier work environment.

Work engagement

A concerning trend highlighted in the report is the rise of presenteeism. This means that employees are physically at work but mentally disengaged. In APAC, presenteeism rose by almost 8%, from 38.2% in 2023 to 41.2% in 2024. This not only affects productivity but also places a financial strain on organisations, costing three times more than absenteeism.

Employee productivity

Mental wellbeing emerged as the strongest factor influencing employee productivity, surpassing traditional focuses like growth mindset and goal orientation. The data highlights the importance of investing in mental health strategies, as personal mental wellbeing showed the highest correlation to workplace performance.

Theodoric Chew, Co-founder & CEO of Intellect, commented: "Employers that invest in support systems, initiatives and programmes that help employees feel valued will ultimately create healthier workplaces where teams are more productive and engaged."