Government, public, and labor employees often manage growing workloads while working within tight budgets, persistent staffing shortages, and rising service expectations from the communities they serve. Many roles require long hours, rapid decision-making, and sustained attention under pressure, leaving limited time for recovery or preventive care. Over time, that combination of workload intensity and resource constraints can contribute to chronic stress, fatigue, and increased health risk across the workforce.

Several professions in this sector face acute challenges. Teachers across the U.S. report rising burnout due to large class sizes, administrative demands, and increasing expectations for student support. Law enforcement officers frequently encounter prolonged trauma and high-stress situations, leading to elevated rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Firefighters, despite their training and resilience, face unique risks, including significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease caused by intense physical exertion, irregular sleep, and repeated stress exposure.

41%

burnout rate among government workforce

39%

of law enforcement are affected by depression

71%

of law enforcement report struggling with sleep disturbances

53%

of teachers reported feelings of burnout

These realities create a complex wellbeing landscape for public sector leaders. Supporting employees means addressing both the physical and psychological demands of public service while also maintaining workforce stability in roles that are critical to community safety, education, and infrastructure. As staffing shortages persist and work demands grow, organizations are increasingly recognizing that workforce wellbeing is not only a health issue, but a core factor in retention, resilience, and long-term operational continuity.

Public and Labor behavior change insights

Public and Labor workforces support essential services that communities rely on every day. These roles often involve physically demanding work, irregular schedules, and high levels of responsibility to the public. Sustaining personal wellbeing in these environments requires practical health behaviors that help employees manage stress, maintain physical strength, and recover from demanding shifts.

The insights below combine aggregated, anonymized data from the Navigate platform with observations from our industry-aligned Client Success teams working directly with Public and Labor organizations. To strengthen reliability, we evaluated patterns that consistently appeared across employers, employee groups, and wellbeing measures.

Together, these patterns highlight how public sector employees are strengthening everyday habits that support long-term health, resilience, and workforce sustainability.

Public sector employees are prioritizing foundational health behaviors

Using Navigate platform data, the most common health topics among public sector participants include:

Physical activity
Gratitude
Healthy eating
Blood pressure management
Financial health
Mental health and stress management
Cholesterol management

Why this behavior change is impactful

Public and Labor employees often work in roles that demand physical stamina, sustained focus, and rapid decision-making. The behaviors employees prioritize support energy levels, cardiovascular health, and recovery between shifts. These daily habits help employees maintain both personal health and their ability to perform essential community services.

Social connection is strengthening across Public and Labor teams

43%

of our Public and Labor participants improved from struggling to thriving in social wellbeing

Why this behavior change is impactful

Public sector work depends on collaboration, trust, and strong relationships across teams and departments. Improvements in social wellbeing suggest employees are strengthening connections that help them navigate demanding work environments, support colleagues, and build resilience together. These relationships also play an important role in protecting mental health and maintaining morale across teams that often operate under high public expectations.

Mental wellbeing improvements are emerging across the workforce

30%

of our Public and Labor participants improved from struggling to thriving in mental health, stress, or mindfulness

Why this behavior change is impactful

Public and labor employees frequently work in environments where stress, public accountability, and operational demands are constant. Improvements in stress management, mindfulness, and mental wellbeing indicate employees are developing practical coping strategies that support resilience and recovery. Movement along the wellbeing continuum—from struggling to thriving—signals that meaningful behavior change is taking place.

Employees are building stronger financial wellbeing habits

48%

of our Public and Labor participants improved their financial health in 2025

Why this behavior change is impactful

Financial stability plays a foundational role in overall wellbeing. When employees gain greater confidence in managing their finances, it reduces a major source of daily stress and strengthens their ability to focus at work and home. For Public and Labor employees balancing family responsibilities and long-term career commitments, improvements in financial health contribute to greater overall stability and resilience.

Take the next step

Data only tells part of the story. To see the complete picture, you need practical strategies that turn these health improvements into measurable ROI, lower healthcare claims, and higher employee retention.

Ready to learn how successful organizations achieve these outcomes? Explore insights from our Public and Labor Client Success team to see what works on the ground, review our other industry impact reports for broader trends, and download the full Navigate Impact Guide to build a program that truly supports your people.

Get the Impact Guide

Industry specific insights from our platform and client success teams.

Sources:

Eagle Hill Consulting: Understanding government employee burnout

Police 1: The police wellness crisis: New research and recommendations

RAND: Teacher Well-Being, Pay, and Intentions to Leave in 2025

Navigate 2025 Book of Business Data, Public and Labor

Navigate Total Health 2025 Book of Business Data, Public and Labor