A new survey from job website Monster Canada is shedding light on one of the main reasons people leave their jobs – stress.

According to the survey, one in four working Canadians have left a job due to stress and a further 17 per cent have considered it. The survey also found that 58 per cent of working Canadians say they’re overworked.

The online survey of 1,057 working Canadians also found that those who make under $40,000 a year are the most likely to say they’ve left a job due to stress. The next earning bracket, $40,000-$59,000, is the second most likely to leave due to overwhelming job stress.

“For those starting out in their careers, saying yes to opportunities can be second nature,” said Angela Payne, Monster Canada general manager in a press release.

“But the work can add up fast, which may impact stress levels. These findings suggest that employers should consider focusing more retention efforts on employees making under $40,000, since they may be prone to excessive job stress.”

In Canada, the most common cause of workplace stress is being overworked or dealing with an excessive workload.

Nearly one third of Canadians agreed, in contrast to the US, where the number one cause of workplace stress was office politics.

For more on this story, please see the August 23 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald