When the inaugural Executive Health Index™ was released in 2017, it revealed that executives in legal, banking and professional services ranked among the healthiest in Australia. At the other end of the spectrum, executives in construction, transport and agriculture showed significantly lower health scores, leaving them at higher risk of chronic disease and reduced productivity.
At the time, HRD reported that the Index provided “a more meaningful comparison for organisations than national norms” and allowed leaders to pinpoint the health risks most relevant to their industry.
Seven years on, the Executive Health Index™ 2024, produced by Executive Health Solutions, offers a fresh look at which sectors are leading the way in executive health, and which are struggling.
The 2024 Executive Health Rankings
Drawing on more than 31,000 assessments across 17 industries, the 2024 Index shows some big shifts since 2017:
- Financial Services rose to 1st place overall, up from 5th in 2019. Strong GP engagement and stress management programs contributed to the improvement.
- Banking executives ranked 2nd, maintaining a strong overall position.
- Accounting moved into the top tier at 3rd overall, despite challenges with physical and lifestyle health.
- Real Estate ranked 4th, with standout results in psychological wellbeing.
- Legal slipped to 5th overall, with workload pressures keeping stress levels high.
Least Healthy Sectors in 2024
The bottom of the rankings echo some of the same industries flagged in 2017:
- Agriculture ranks lowest overall, with lifestyle and medical health identified as the biggest risks.
- Transport and Retail also fall into the lower tier, reflecting physical inactivity and lifestyle challenges.
- Hotels and Hospitality face growing risks linked to irregular hours and stress.
Why Executive Health Matters by Industry
The Executive Health Index™ is unique in that it draws on clinical data, not self-reported surveys, across four key pillars:
• Psychological wellbeing: depression, anxiety, stress and sleep quality.
• Physical health: aerobic fitness, BMI, waist circumference and musculoskeletal strength.
• Medical health: blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and cardiac screening.
• Lifestyle health: alcohol, smoking and physical activity.
This evidence-based approach allows organisations to see exactly where their leaders are at risk, benchmarked against industry peers.
Executive Health Solutions CEO, John Hall, explains:
“Even industries that do well overall have areas where improvements can be made. The Index allows organisations to see where the risks are and where interventions will have the most impact.”
2017 vs 2024: What Has Changed?
- Top industries have shifted: Legal and professional services led in 2017, but by 2024 financial services, banking and accounting dominate.
- Bottom industries remain consistent: Agriculture, transport and construction continue to lag, suggesting systemic lifestyle and occupational health challenges.
- Psychological risks are widespread: Even in high-ranking industries, stress and poor sleep remain significant concerns, with 43% of executives reporting average to poor sleep quality.
What Organisations Can Do
The results highlight the importance of:
- Regular executive health assessments to identify risks early.
- Industry-specific strategies tailored to the demands of different sectors.
- Wellbeing initiatives that go beyond compliance and address lifestyle, stress management and resilience.
The healthiest executive sectors in 2024 look different from those in 2017, but the message remains the same: executive health directly impacts productivity, retention and business performance. By benchmarking against peers through the Executive Health Index™, organisations can take proactive steps to protect their leaders and build long-term resilience.
