Young Italian workers are the most stressed in the world

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Young Italian workers are the most stressed in the world


Bain & Company presented the new research "The Working Future" , analyzing how the world of work has changed and how new trends must be taken into account in company policies.


A report resulting from a survey conducted on a sample of over 20 thousand workers in ten countries which together represent approximately 65% of global GDP :

  • United States
  • China
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Nigeria
  • Brazil

Bain & Company unveiled new global trend research who are shaping the world of work. Italy is the one behind: the level of professional satisfaction of Italians is at the bottom.

Five key trends that are changing the future of business


  1. The motivations that drive people to work are changing

The improvements in living standards over the past 150 years are allowing us to spend fewer hours working and are helping to raise expectations about what a job should offer.


"Although compensation is still on the podium of the priorities of most workers, - explains Roberta Berlinghieri, partner of Bain & Company - in Italy only one in five workers classifies him as the main factor for choosing a job, with flexibility taking on an increasingly important role: for 12% of Italian workers is already the first reason to choose a job ".

  1. What is "good work"? Diverging views

Bain has identified six employee archetypes , each characterized by a different mix of properties, for which companies must create distinct employee value propositions.


  • Worker Bees: They find meaning and self-esteem mainly outside of their work, considering their occupation as a means. They are not motivated by status or autonomy, and prefer stability and predictability. They have team spirit, but often lack proactivity.
  • Givers: They find motivation in jobs that improve the lives of others, such as medicine or teaching. Their empathic nature typically results in deep interpersonal relationships. Their more cautious nature leads them to be impractical and naive.
  • Artisans: They are looking for a job that fascinates or inspires them and they love to be appreciated for their expertise. Typically they want a high degree of autonomy, giving less importance to teamwork. They risk being detached and losing sight of their goals.
  • Explorers: They tend to live in the present and seek careers that provide a high degree of variety and excitement. They tend to take a pragmatic approach to professional development, achieving only the necessary level of competence. They may lack direction and conviction.
  • Strivers: They are motivated by professional success, and value status and reward. They are planners who can be relatively risk averse. They are willing to tolerate more routine jobs as long as it helps them achieve their long-term goals. Their competitiveness can test trust within the organization.
  • Pioneers: They deeply identify with their work and through their profession they want to change the world. They are the most risk-tolerant and future-oriented, willing to make great sacrifices in the name of their vision. They put their energy at the service of change, but they risk being uncompromising and imperious.

"In Italy - explains Roberta Berlinghieri - the most widespread archetype is the first, that of the Worker Bees, the operatives. In particular, this predominance is evident in the age group 35 -54 ".

The archetypes of workers divided by age group and level of education.

  1. Automation is (re) humanizing work

Typically human qualities, such as problem solving, empathy and creativity, are growing in importance as automation gradually replaces routine work. Bain expects a shift in the employment mix in developed economies that will foster human qualities , and this will require major retraining of the workforce .

  1. Technological change is blurring the company's boundaries

The boom in Smart Working and Gig Economy has significantly changed the way workers interact with companies. These changes have reduced company costs, but also have negative consequences for workers, particularly in terms of the level of professional satisfaction and connection between colleagues.


"Italy is - continues Berlinghieri - from this point of view, very fragmented. We are witnessing a great polarization in the desires of Italian workers: 27% would rather never (or almost never) work remotely, 17% would instead opt for five days a week of smart working ".

% of respondents who feel stressed / overwhelmed by work by age group and status.

  1. The new generations are increasingly stressed

Young people are subjected to increasing psychological tension which is reflected in their working life. If this trend manifests itself in a widespread manner in all the geographical areas taken into consideration, Italy is on the podium, after Japan and Brazil: 64% of Italian workers under 35 interviewed feel overwhelmed or under stress, while only 54% of over 35s and 44% of over 55s cite work and economic stability as concerns.


"Only 60% of Italian workers interviewed are satisfied with their prefession".

How do these trends impact companies?


Taking into account all these trends, Bain & Company has identified two areas in which companies that want to be successful will have to invest.


In the first place these companies will have to go from being "talent taker" ( talent taker ) to "talent developer" ( talent maker ): a change that requires investments of scale in training and creativity, focusing on the career paths of resources and cultivating a growth mindset within the organization.


Second, leading companies will need to push employees to work on personal skills and build a career that matches their subjective idea of life.