Compensation claims for overwork-related deaths, stress hit record high 6,212 in FY2025

The number of claims filed for workers’ compensation due to causes such as death from karoshi (overwork) resulting from excessive workplace strain and mental disorders caused by stress, totaled 6,212 in fiscal 2025, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said in a report released Thursday.

This represents an increase of 1,402 from the previous fiscal year and marks a record high, TV Asahi reported. Of the total, 1,310 cases were deaths recognized as resulting from work-related injuries, illnesses and suicides, marking the fourth consecutive year of increase.

By cause, the most frequent reason cited was “power harassment,” such as physical or mental abuse by a supervisor or other superior, accounting for 222 cases, followed by “customer harassment” (abuse from clients or business partners) and “sexual harassment.”

In the report, the ministry attributes the increase over fiscal 2025 to growing public awareness and understanding regarding death from overwork and workplace harassment.

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