Money worries have been found to be the top concern for UK employees, rising by 63% from 2024, according to research by financial wellbeing provider Wagestream.
ItsThe missing metric report highlighted that financial concerns are the main worry for employees in 2025 (31%), up 19% from 2024. This is three times greater than mental, physical health and work-life balance concerns.
A quarter (27%) of respondents said they worry about money every single day, and 48% worry about it at least once a week. Over a third (36%) said they have variable income month to month, and 42% reported overwhelming concerns about their finances.
Almost half (45%) believe that setting savings aside this year is unrealistic, with one in six having no savings, and a third with £500 or less. Two-thirds (66%) wish they could build up savings automatically from their salary and 15% said they lack a financial support network.
Just under half (46%) believe their employer cares about their financial health, placing them higher than banks (32%) or the government (20%). Despite 93% of UK employers having financial wellbeing support in place, only one in five employees believe this meets their needs.
More than a quarter (28%) of respondents would be more likely to stay with an employer with better financial support, 18% report they would work harder, and 20% would focus more at work. Conversely, 48% would move to another employer for better financial benefits.
Prelini Udayan-Chiechi, chief marketing officer at Wagestream, said: “This report brings together robust data and real-world insights to delineate the scale of financial stress impacting UK employees. It positions financial resilience as a critical metric for employers. Crucially, it provides practical, evidence-based solutions that organisations can implement to have happier, healthier and more engaged teams.
“For decision-makers across HR, reward, benefits and executive leadership, the imperative is clear: fostering financial resilience is not only a moral responsibility, but also a distinct strategic advantage.”
