Economic Survey warns: Long hours harm productivity, 'phone-based childhood' risk to future workforce

If India’s economic ambitions are to be met, then immediate attention must be given to lifestyle choices often made during childhood, according to the Economic Survey.

The annual document, tabled in Parliament on Friday, flagged concerns over long working hours, noting that individuals who spend 12 or more hours at their desks experience distressing levels of mental well-being.

Citing a survey conducted last year, the pre-Budget document highlighted that individuals who regularly consume ultra-processed or junk food, rarely exercise, or spend excessive time on social media reported lower mental well-being.

“While the low levels of mental well-being are worrying, the ramifications of these trends on the economy are equally disturbing,” it noted.

The survey revealed that better workplace culture and lifestyle habits result in 2-3 fewer lost workdays per month. Poor manager relationships and lack of pride at work led to the largest increase in workdays lost, with even the best-managed workplaces seeing an average of five lost days per month.

A World Health Organization (WHO) study estimated that globally, 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety, amounting to a financial loss of $1 trillion. In Indian terms, this equates to approximately ₹7,000 per lost workday.

The Economic Survey also highlighted the growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents, attributing it to excessive internet and social media use. Citing Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, the report warned of the consequences of a "phone-based childhood."

The report called for immediate school and family-level interventions, advocating for outdoor activities and fostering strong family bonds to combat internet overuse.

“Investing time in building close family bonds would go a long way towards keeping children and adolescents away from internet and improving mental well-being. In many ways, returning to our roots may allow us to reach further for the skies in terms of mental health,” it said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday presented the Economic Survey 2024-25 in the Parliament.

The Economic Survey is an annual document presented by the government ahead of the Union Budget to review the state of the economy. The document also provides an overview of the short-to-medium-term prospects of the economy.

The Union Budget for 2025-26 will be presented by the Finance Minister on Saturday.