One in three young social housing professionals experienced burnout in past year, survey finds

One in three young professionals in social housing have regularly experienced burnout in the past 12 months because of their job, according to the largest ever study of its kind.

A report out today by Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Futures and consultancy Altair reveals findings from a survey of more than 900 housing professionals aged under 35 along with insights from follow-up focus groups.

The report, titled Voices of the Future: Building Tomorrow’s Housing Sector, reveals 36% of respondents have felt “extremely tired, stressed, or overwhelmed” in the past 12 months. More than 20% said they have experienced this (which the report says is also known as “burnout”) a few times over the past year.

The report also revealed younger professionals’ deep commitment to the sector and social purpose.

A total of 88% of young professionals said having a job that helps people or makes a positive difference was “extremely” or “very important” to them.

Nearly one in four respondents said they “completely” feel part of the sector while more than a third (36%) said they “mostly feel part of it”. Nearly seven in ten plan to build their long-term career in the social housing.

More than two thirds of young professionals who responded said they were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their current role.

The report however said young professionals have found inconsistent experiences of career progression, training and management support, with some feeling “unheard” in their organisations. The report lists several recommendations for government, CIH Futures and employers.

It calls on government to add more detailed classification within datasets to enhance understanding of the young housing professionals’ workforce.

It said CIH Futures should provide more online networking opportunities for younger professionals and start a programme on what good work in housing looks like to share learning and experience. It also said it should collaborate with other networks for young professionals in housing and the built environment to amplify voice and opportunities and start a programme to recognise supportive managers as a way of celebrating good practice.

The report says employers should investigate and action initiatives targeting youth employment and reduce barriers to entry to ensure job descriptions and adverts are clear and jargon-free. It said when running staff surveys, “employers should look to understand differences in workplace experiences based on characteristics (such as age), entry route, manager, and role, and seek to address identified differences”.

It said social housing employers should “develop an employee voice strategy” and review pay parity across job levels. They should also review their activity around wellbeing support.

The report also said Housing Today’s Good Employer Guide, due to be published in March, ”should help with identifying housing associations with good employment initiatives”. See more below about the guide and details of how to enter.

The overarching recommendation is for CIH and CIH Futures to establish a task and finish group to oversee, coordinate, and report on the implementation of recommendations from this report, ensuring accountability and progress.

The report said: “While most remain motivated, young professionals are feeling the strain within their roles.

“Employers should consider the support in place for younger staff, both formally and informally. Too often young professionals feel their ideas are dismissed or unheard. Given their desire to make a difference, this was frustrating for young workers.

“More emphasis should be placed by managers and organisations to listen to young staff, treat them as equals and ensure that any feedback is reflected and acted upon.”