What This Means
This research examined how work intensity — defined as the ratio between workload and available time — has changed among German workers over the past decade, using large-scale survey data collected in 2012, 2018, and 2024 from around 18,000 employees each time. The researchers tracked three specific indicators: multitasking, deadline and performance pressure, and working at the limits of one's capacity. Overall, the news was mixed: multitasking became more common, while deadline pressure and working beyond one's limits became somewhat less prevalent. However, these overall trends masked important differences between groups of workers.
This research suggests that not all workers are experiencing the same changes. Women, full-time employees, and those in jobs with higher skill requirements consistently faced greater work intensity than men, part-time workers, or those in lower-skilled roles. More concerning, some specific groups of workers showed work intensity that remained high or even increased over the study period, even as the overall population averages improved. This means that headline-level improvements may obscure ongoing problems for particular segments of the workforce.
The findings matter because sustained high work intensity is linked to serious health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal problems, and depression. The authors argue that despite some encouraging overall trends, work intensity must remain a central concern in workplace safety and health prevention efforts, particularly for the groups most affected. Employers, policymakers, and occupational health professionals are urged to intensify efforts to design work in ways that reduce excessive demands on these vulnerable groups.