Yes, accountants have high rates of depression, with studies indicating that approximately one in three accountants have been diagnosed with or self-identify with depression. This is largely driven by extreme work-related stress, with up to 99% of accountants experiencing burnout, exhaustion, or feelings of alienation due to intense, long hours.
Furthermore, one in three accountants have been diagnosed with or self-identify with depression, and three in ten have regular panic attacks. Physical symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal issues, are said to be indicators of burnt out.
According to ICAEW, 30.4% of accountants suffer from mental health issues and 51% admit that depression and anxiety leave them dreading to go to work. This is about half of the accounting professionals. This should be alarming enough to take the necessary actions.
MEDICINE MOST STRESSFUL MAJOR
Students studying in medicine-related fields led the pack. Right behind them were the law, social work, and engineering majors.
Unfortunately, accountants are also at risk of the more extreme symptoms of burnout. In severe cases of burnout, sufferers may experience pronounced anxiety or depression, which can severely impact their personal and professional lives.
Health care and health systems.
Perhaps more than any other industry, health care workers have experienced unprecedented stress and impacts to their mental health over the last five years.
Jobs with the highest depression rates often involve high stress, emotional labor, poor work-life balance, and underappreciation, with top categories including healthcare support, food preparation and serving, community and social services, and roles in arts, entertainment, sports, and media, according to recent studies. Factors like demanding environments, long hours, dealing with trauma, and low pay contribute to mental health challenges in these fields.
Other occupations with higher prevalence of frequent mental distress included:
That could explain why professions such as heavy construction employees (7.54%), miners (7.13%), and recreation workers (6.87%) have much lower rates of reported depression.
A large segment of experienced accountants are reaching retirement age, and younger generations often prioritize work-life balance, purpose-driven work, and flexible career paths. This causes organizations with more traditional accounting roles to struggle to appeal to emerging talent.
Their teams often work overtime to ensure they meet deadlines, especially when auditing a company or doing taxes for clients during the busy season. These long hours cause stress and burnout, which can lead to mental health problems, especially when the accountant isn't able to spend time with family and friends.
Accountants are one of the least happy careers in the United States. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, accountants rate their career happiness 2.6 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 6% of careers.
The accounting 150-Hour Rule traditionally requires aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) to complete 150 college credit hours (a master's degree or extra undergrad courses) for licensure, beyond the standard 120-hour bachelor's degree, plus experience and the CPA exam. Due to talent shortages, states are introducing new pathways, like Ohio's 2025 change, allowing a bachelor's degree, two years' experience, and the exam as alternatives to the extra schooling, making licensure more accessible.
The 3-3-3 rule in mental health is a simple grounding technique to manage anxiety by focusing on your senses: name three things you see, three sounds you hear, and then move three different parts of your body. It helps interrupt overwhelming thoughts, redirects focus to the present moment (mindfulness), and calms the body by engaging your senses and encouraging gentle movement, making it useful for panic or stress.
Key takeaways
A few industries for potentially recession-proof jobs are health care, education, finance, law, and utilities. Some top industries that have fewer layoffs and reductions in force include the health care, legal, and essential services like public safety.
At its core, bed rotting involves staying in bed on purpose, where individuals lay around engaging in passive activities like watching TV, phone scrolling, or napping. Fans claim it lets them “reset their brain” after burnout. Critics argue it's glorified avoidance that can breed more depression and lethargy.
17 low-stress high-paying jobs