Increasing number of young women unable to work due to mental health problems

A growing number of women under 40 are unable to work due to mental health issues, new figures on occupational disability benefits (WIA) from the UWV show. Mental health has accounted for a growing share of occupational disability benefits for years, but the benefits agency sees a worrying trend specifically among young women, Nieuwsuur reports.

These women are often employed in the education, healthcare, and social welfare sectors - sectors with widespread staff shortages. That means a higher workload in these already tough-to-work-in sectors. Societal trends like performance pressure and work-from-home increasingly blending work and private life also play a role in the increase, the UWV expects.

For years, the benefits agency has observed that the cause behind WIA benefits is shifting from physical to psychological complaints. Of the 69,000 new WIA benefits in 2024, a third were due to mental health issues, most commonly depression and post-traumatic stress.

Occupational sociologist Janna Besamusca of Utrecht University is not surprised that so many young women are dropping out of healthcare and education. Women are overrepresented in these sectors, “and these are precisely sectors that are facing significant budget cuts and significant shortages.” That automatically results in a higher workload, she told Nieuwsuur.

Occupational physician Marieke van Hoffen added that the emotional burden of healthcare and education also plays a role. “Employees in these professions have to deal with the emotions of others. That can really affect you personally.”