Three in four workers worry about money during the working day

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Three in four workers worry about money during the working day

Financial stress unevenly felt across workforce, with women, younger workers and lower-income groups most affected

by IFSC News

27 Oct 2026

International Financial Services Centre

Three in four adults (75%) in Ireland say they worry about their personal finances while at work at least some of the time, according to new research commissioned by insurers and wealth advisers NFP.

A new survey of 1,000 adults nationwide, commissioned by insurers and wealth advisers NFP, reveals the extent to which financial worries are affecting employees during the working day, with concerns around household bills, the cost of living and longer-term financial security weighing heavily on workers across Ireland. Among those who said they worry about finances while at work at least occasionally, almost four in ten (37%) said those worries occur “often” or “constantly”. Just 5% said they never think about financial pressures during the working day.

Commenting on the findings, Sarah McGurrin CTA QFA, Head of Employee Benefits, NFP Ireland, said:

“These findings show that financial pressure is a regular reality for many employees. Concerns around day-to-day expenses, debt and long-term financial security are affecting people well beyond their personal lives and into the workplace.

That has a very real human impact, but it also has a business impact. When employees are financially stressed, it can affect concentration, confidence, engagement and overall wellbeing.

The fact that most respondents said these concerns arise ‘sometimes’ is particularly telling. Financial stress is not always obvious, but it is affecting a significant number of workers on a regular basis”.

Gender divide

The survey also highlighted clear gender differences in how financial stress is experienced.

While almost three in ten men (30%) said they rarely or never worry about their finances during the working day, this dropped to just two in ten women (21%).

Women were also significantly more likely to report ongoing financial stress in the workplace, with more than one in ten (11%) saying they worry “constantly” about money while at work, compared with 7% of men.

Sarah McGurrin added:

“The findings suggest that financial stress is being felt more acutely by women in the workplace. This may reflect a range of wider financial and household pressures, including caregiving responsibilities, career breaks, part-time work patterns and the day-to-day pressure of managing household costs”.

Age and income divide

Age also appeared to influence financial confidence and resilience. Respondents over the age of 55 were the least likely to report regular financial worries, with 34% saying they rarely or never think about money concerns while working. This dropped to 14% among those aged 25–34.

Socio-economic background was another clear factor. Among respondents classified within the C2DE demographic grouping, 86% said they worry about finances at work at least some of the time.