Nearly half of all financial services workers face ongoing stress in their jobs, rating slightly above the national average, a new study shows.

Workplace mental health organisation SuperFriend says 44% of workers in the industry leave their jobs due to the poor mental health environment.

About 45% believe employers lack the time to take action on mental health.

More than 66% believe investing in workplace mental health will improve productivity, and 63% say it will reduce absenteeism. Both figures are 5% above the national average.

SuperFriend CEO Margo Lydon says industry workers face stress in striving to be empathetic, supportive and on top of technical matters when customers are experiencing redundancy, illness, death or major life changes.