#Youngworkers

A sweeping new study has found that rates of depression and severe psychological distress differ widely across job sectors, with employees in retail, food service, media, and healthcare support among the most at risk. The findings underscore the urgent need for tailored workplace mental health strategies, particularly as young adults and women are shown to be disproportionately affected.

The research, led by a team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, analyzed data from over 536,000 working adults across 37 US states, collected between 2015 and 2019. The results, published in JAMA Network Open (JAMA Network Open, June 2025), paint a nuanced portrait of how occupation, age, gender, and insurance status shape mental well-being across the labor market. This information is particularly timely for Thailand, where the impacts of economic change, urbanization, and shifting industry are reshaping the workforce and its vulnerabilities.

A global study reveals that depression and serious psychological distress vary by job sector, with retail, food service, media, and healthcare support roles showing the highest risk. The findings underscore the need for sector-specific mental health programs, particularly as young adults and women are disproportionately affected. Data from more than 536,000 working adults across the United States informed the analysis, which examined how occupation, age, gender, and insurance status influence mental well-being. The insights are especially relevant for Thailand, where rapid economic shifts and urban growth are reshaping the workforce and its vulnerabilities. In Thailand, service and hospitality roles have expanded quickly, reflecting global patterns of stress in high-demand industries.