To examine prognostic factors for return to work (RTW) of employees with common mental disorders (CMDs). A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using data from 18 published cohort studies with 24,579 participants. The studies were identified from MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SocINDEX, and Human resource management databases from 1995 to 2016. Two authors independently screened selected studies and assessed the quality of the studies as well as the extracted data. We screened 7755 abstracts, from which 211 full text articles were reviewed. Eighteen cohort studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Significant prognostic factors for RTW included age, contact with medical specialists, RTW-self-efficacy, and work ability. The pooled hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval (CI) for age, RTW-SE, contact with medical specialists, and high work ability/low work demands in relation to RTW were 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.88), 1.79 (95% CI 1.24-2.33), 0.64 (95% CI 0.49-0.80) and 1.08 (95% CI 1.06-1.11), respectively. Self-efficacy (SE) is a key factor in the enhancement of work ability and RTW. Improving employee's SE and collaborating with employers to enhance work ability may help to facilitate RTW. As the RTW process is complex, exploring theoretical frameworks for RTW in individuals with a CMD is also needed.