Nearly half of young adults who work from home feel 'lonely', data shows – and it could get worse

Younger employees experience greater levels of isolation when working remotely compared with older generations, with the issue potentially intensifying, new research indicates.

Figures from the Bupa Wellbeing Index point to a rise in the proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds who feel remote working causes loneliness, increasing from 42% in 2025 to 47% in 2026.

In contrast, 34% of all surveyed adults in 2026 stated that working in isolation leads to loneliness, down slightly from 35% the prior year.

Among those aged 45 to 54, the figure stood at 28%, while only 18% of individuals aged 55 and over felt working alone induced loneliness.

Shazna Khanom, head of clinical mental health at Bupa, said: “As we await the final publication of the Alan Milburn review of young people and work, one thing increasingly stands out to me as a clinician.

“It’s not just about helping young people into work, we also need to create workplaces where they can feel connected, supported and able to thrive.

“While remote and flexible working can bring significant benefits, connection and mental wellbeing should remain a priority alongside them.”

The report also revealed that workers aged 18 to 24 face a heightened impact from workplace mental health struggles relative to the wider population.

Some 41% noted that mental wellbeing had harmed their capacity to work over the preceding 12 months, compared with 29% across all age groups surveyed.

Nearly nine in 10 (87%) younger staff also reported attending work despite managing a mental health issue, whereas the general population figure was 70%.

Furthermore, mental health proved a larger factor in young staff quitting jobs over the past year, with 35% of those aged 18 to 24 citing it as an influence, compared to 24% across all age groups surveyed.

It comes after Office for National Statistics (ONS) data from July to September showed higher feelings of loneliness generally among younger age groups.

Some 34% of people aged 16 to 29 said they always feel lonely or are lonely often or some of the time, compared to 25% of people of all ages and 22% of those aged 50 to 69, the ONS found.

Ms Khanom added: “Creating mentally healthy workplaces is a shared responsibility. Employers can make a real difference by fostering environments where people feel safe discussing concerns and accessing support early.

“For those who are struggling at work because of mental health concerns, my advice would be to speak to your manager, HR team or a healthcare professional. A conversation can make all the difference in helping you to get the help you need.”

The Bupa report included data on working and feeling lonely for 5,262 people.

Kelly Nicoll, immediate past president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), said managers need to update practices “to reflect the evolving demands of a multi-generational, hybrid workforce”.

She added: “Our own research has indicated around half of 18 to 24-year-olds say home and hybrid working makes it harder to build relationships with colleagues and managers.

“More than two-fifths fear fewer face-to-face interactions are restricting their personal and professional development. A third feel demotivated.

“Managers need to build in more structured supervision time and regular check-ins with young workers and hybrid workers.

“They need to make room for daily informal catch-ups and also set weekly and monthly one-to-one sessions to cover performance and address wider issues such as health, safety and wellbeing, as well as mentoring, coaching and career development.

“Mental health risk management should be fully integrated into occupational safety systems and management practices need to be updated to reflect the evolving demands of a multigenerational, hybrid workforce.”