Does education protect against work stress?
Work is a major part of daily life, and stress at work can cause serious problems for health, overall well-being, and productivity. A recent study looked at whether having more years of education helps people cope better with stress at work or not. The researchers used data from over 13,000 employed adults in Germany, collected as part of a national educational survey. The study focused on common sources of stress in the workplace, such as routine tasks, autonomy, poor working environments, job insecurity, and lack of opportunities for promotion or pay increases.
The results showed that, overall, people with more years of education reported feeling less stressed by their jobs. Education seemed to act as a protective factor, lowering stress even when other difficult job conditions were present. Interestingly, the impact of education was not the same for all situations. For example, workers with more education were better able to handle highly routine jobs. Instead of feeling bored or trapped, they experienced less stress in routine situations—perhaps because their skills helped them manage such tasks more efficiently.
On the other hand, when it came to career threats, highly educated employees actually reported feeling more stressed. The possibility of job loss or a lack of promotion opportunities weighed more heavily on them compared to workers with fewer years of schooling. This could be because people with higher education levels often have stronger career ambitions, and threats to their progress feel more significant.
Some of the findings challenged common assumptions. Autonomy, which is usually seen as a good thing, was linked to higher stress in this study. One possible explanation is that more freedom also comes with more responsibility, which can be overwhelming. Similarly, having routine tasks, often thought of as stressful, was linked to less stress in this dataset, particularly for those with higher education.
The study suggests that education generally reduces stress at work, but it does not shield people from every challenge. A poor working environment, for example, one marked by conflict or disrespect, was stressful for everyone, regardless of education level. Job insecurity and lack of career growth opportunities also remained serious stressors, even more so for the highly educated.
The findings have clear implications for employers. Supporting learning and skill development can help employees cope better with stress. But companies should also recognise that educated workers are particularly sensitive to career insecurity. Clear promotion paths, fair pay systems, and healthy workplace cultures are just as important as professional development opportunities.
It is worth noting that the study was cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time and cannot prove cause and effect. It was also based on self-reported survey data and limited to the German workforce, which may not reflect experiences in other countries. Still, the results add to the growing evidence that education plays an important role in how people experience and manage work-related stress.
In short, education can be a valuable buffer against stress, especially in routine jobs, but it does not erase the impact of toxic environments or insecure career paths. Employers aiming to reduce stress should invest in learning opportunities while also creating fair, supportive, and respectful workplaces.
Reference
Schoger, L. I. (2025). Coping with work-related stressors: Does education reduce work-related stress? Journal of Public Health, 33, 1123–1134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02070-5
