Stress levels among UK insurance brokers have reached their highest point since 2019, according to new research by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical to mark World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10).
The firm’s Broker Wellbeing Survey, now in its sixth year, found almost half (47.5%) of brokers reported high or very high stress levels. The annual study, which asks brokers to rate their stress from 1–10, shows a steady rise since its launch as professionals continue to balance workplace duties with personal demands.
Nearly half (48%) of respondents said they had experienced anxiety in the past year, while 47% admitted feeling overwhelmed and 17% said they had been unable to cope. The findings reflect pressures felt across national, regional, and provincial brokerages, with heavy workloads, regulatory demands, and customer expectations all contributing.
Workload remains the primary cause of stress, cited by 70% of brokers, followed by regulation and compliance (66%), customer demands (53%), and dealing with insurers (49%). Staff shortages also saw a sharp increase, rising nine percentage points to 46%.
One broker commented, “We’ve lost a lot of staff over the past year and the company won’t replace them, so everyone’s workload has gone through the roof and we’re all working under huge pressure.”
Despite the rise in stress, most brokers (92%) said they could recognise the signs of poor mental health, while 93% felt they had the tools to manage daily pressures. The majority (85%) rated their mental wellbeing as good or very good.
Encouragingly, 81% said they now feel comfortable reporting mental health concerns to their line manager - up 2% from last year - while 86% of managers reportedly take action in response. More than three-quarters (79%) of brokers said their firms are dedicated to improving wellbeing, with support initiatives steadily growing since 2020.
Brokerages are increasingly offering flexible working arrangements (72%), counselling services (55%), confidential helplines (51%), and mental health awareness training for managers (52%) and staff (48%). The number of firms using external consultants for support also rose to 37% this year.
“It’s clear brokers are under considerable pressure on a day-to-day basis, with increased workloads and customer demands adding to the day-to-day stress,” David Carey, intermediate managing director at Ecclesiastical, said. “What is encouraging is that brokers feel they have the resilience and tools at their disposal to tackle that.”
He added that stigma around mental health remains a concern but improving awareness across the industry can help brokers feel more supported.
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