Loneliness epidemic hitting workplaces across the US

Americans are lonely, so much so that the surgeon general has declared loneliness an epidemic. A new study by research firm BSG, TheLi.st and Berlin Cameron showed that 86% of white collar workers between the ages of 18 and 34 said they’ve felt lonely or isolated as a result of their job role, and 76% of those 35 and older said they felt that way.

People considered white collar are workers in office settings, like clerical, administrative, managerial and executive roles, and tend to earn an annual salary. For comparison, blue-collar workers often have to do manual labor and get paid by the hour or by job. 

While the rise in remote and hybrid work models can play a role in loneliness, experts said the trend of white-collar workers feeling lonelier has more to do with technology and lack of proper support from their employer. In fact, the study found 65% of white-collar workers believe their employers have a responsibility to address loneliness in the workplace. 

The report shows lonely staffers are four times more likely to be dissatisfied with their current careers and three times more likely to feel they cannot be their authentic selves at work. Employees struggling with loneliness are also only half as likely to feel positive about their career prospects compared to workers who say they do not feel lonely.

Loneliness in the workplace is a worldwide issue

The feelings of loneliness and isolation are not just impacting American workers. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report, 1 in 5 workers around the world says they experience loneliness daily.

That study also found younger people reported feeling loneliness more, with 22% of those under the age of 54 saying they experience loneliness daily, compared to 19% of those over 35.

It’s worse for women

Women are even more impacted when it comes to feeling isolated and lonely at work, and studies show that only gets worse as they work their way up.

A similar study conducted by the same researchers in 2023 found 53% of women in the workplace experienced loneliness because of their job. Nearly 60% of those surveyed said their feelings of loneliness and isolation only got worse as their careers progressed.

Additionally, more than half the women climbing the corporate ladder said they declined a job or promotion or even quit because of the negative impact on their personal life. The study found senior-level men are significantly more likely than senior-level women to say their loneliness or isolation decreased the further they have gone in their careers.

How employers can help

Americans spend up to one-third of their week at work, so researchers said it is not surprising their jobs impact their feelings of connection.

The researchers who put the study together say there are ways to employers can help combat loneliness in the workplace, including giving employees more opportunities to interact in person, being transparent, training managers to lead with empathy and respect and creating a collaborative and supportive culture.