Young‑adult stress as workforce risk

A large share of adults under 30 report fair/poor mental health (36%) and say stress is a major challenge (47%), suggesting younger cohorts face concentrated barriers to managing stress and relationships. That concentrated disadvantage could translate into higher absenteeism, lower productivity, and greater demand on mental‑health services as they enter peak working ages. — If sustained, young adults’ worse self‑rated mental health will affect labor markets, healthcare demand, education outcomes and public policy priorities for the next decade.