Broker stress levels at an all-time high

Broker stress levels have risen to an all-time high, according to new research from Ecclesiastical.

Published today (10 October 2025), the insurer’s annual Broker Wellbeing Survey found that brokers at national, regional and provincial businesses are feeling the strain as heavy workloads, client expectations and regulation combine with personal issues to create more pressure.

And almost half (47.5%) of brokers reported stress levels as high or very high, the highest since the survey first launched in 2019. 

Meanwhile, almost half (48%) said they experienced anxiety or were overwhelmed (47%) in the last year – with more than one in six (17%) saying they were unable to cope.

One broker commented their stress levels would be improved by “an end to the constant pressure and deadlines from the FCA to complete endless forms and returns”.

“They’re always chasing us for something,” they said.

Another added: “We’ve lost a lot of staff over the past year and the company won’t replace them, so everyone’s workload has gone through the roof and we’re all working under huge pressure.”

Recognising signs

However, most brokers (92%) felt confident at recognising the signs of poor mental health. The majority (93%) also believe they have the tools and techniques to deal with everyday stresses.

And while stress levels continued to rise, the majority (85%) of brokers rated their mental wellbeing as good or very good. 

A record number of brokers (81%) also said they felt comfortable reporting their mental health issues to their line manager, with most managers (86%) taking action as a result.

However, despite feeling more able to report issues to their manager, almost one in six (15%) said they did not feel comfortable talking to their manager about their mental health, with one saying: “I don’t feel my manager has the knowledge or understanding required to deal with it.” 

Positive progress

Despite this, the survey shows positive progress is being made by firms to reduce the stigma of mental health and create a more supportive environment.

More than three quarters of brokers said their firm is dedicated to enhancing wellbeing, with this figure gradually rising since 2020.

Meanwhile, almost three quarters (74%) of brokers believe their organisation is increasingly committed to reducing the stigma of mental health, with 86% saying they felt their managers or employers were acting on mental health concerns – a 10% increase compared to 2020. 

More than half of brokers (51%) also believe there is now a high level of acceptance towards mental health within the industry, an 8% increase on last year.

David Carey, intermediate managing director at Ecclesiastical, said: “The Broker Wellbeing Survey gives us incredibly useful insight into the issues affecting brokers and brokerages and campaigns like World Mental Health Day are an opportunity for brokers and the wider insurance industry to discuss the impact on brokers’ mental health. 

“Its clear brokers are under considerable pressure on a day-to-day basis, with increased workloads and customer demands adding to the day-to-day stress. What is encouraging is to hear brokers feel they have the resilience and tools at their disposal to help them tackle that. 

“Despite this, and the significant improvements and investment made by brokerages in mental health support, there is still the lurking issue of stigma around mental health preventing brokers from talking about their feelings with colleagues. That’s something we can all contribute to improving. 

“We hope this survey can help in highlighting some of the wider challenges and impacts, and for our part, we continue to focus on ensuring we offer the best service we can to our brokers so they can deliver to our mutual customers.”