Combating Stigma: Mental Health and Support Issues in the Construction Industry 

Clayco’s second annual mental health survey has found that mental health challenges in the construction industry continue to deepen, with 64% of construction workers reporting that they’ve experienced anxiety or depression in the last 12 months, up from 54% from Clayco’s inaugural survey in 2024.  

For the second consecutive year, Clayco surveyed more than 1,000 construction workers in the U.S. on issues related to mental health. The 2025 edition of the survey also polled more than 1,000 construction industry executives and decision makers.  

In addition to finding continued prevalence of mental health issues on both construction jobsites and in the office, Clayco’s data revealed that more than a third of construction workers say they have been discriminated against at work when they’ve talked about their mental health issues, while a significant number of executives admitted that workers are likely to be treated differently for seeking mental health services.

BY THE NUMBERS 

Anxiety & Depression in the Construction Industry 

Almost two-thirds (64%) of construction workers say they have experienced anxiety or depression within the last 12 months, up from 54% in Clayco’s 2024 survey.

By gender: 

• Female: 73% 
• Male: 60%  

By generation: 

• Gen Z: 69% 
• Millennial: 66% 
• Gen X: 59% 
• Baby Boomers: 66% 

Coping Mechanisms for Handling Anxiety & Depression in Construction 

• More than a quarter (28%) of construction workers say they have experienced substance use disorders or challenges with other forms of addictive behavior within the last 12 months, which is one percentage point lower than the 2024 survey (29%).  

• More than one in three (34%) of construction executives admit they have had a substance use disorder or experienced challenges with other forms of addictive behavior in the last 12 months.   

• Nearly six in ten (58%) of construction workers admit they have mis-used or over-used at least one substance to cope with their mental health within the past 12 months, which is 11 percentage points higher than in the August 2024 survey (47%). 

Causes and Consequences of Mental Health Challenges 

• Construction workers most frequently say that physical demands of the work (47% in 2025, 42% in 2024), poor work-life balance (42% in 2025, 36% in 2024) and tight deadlines to complete projects (41% in 2025, 35% in 2024) are the main causes of distress on the job.   

• More than a third (36%) of construction workers say they have missed work due to mental health concerns within the past 12 months, 4 percentage points higher than in 2024 (32%). 

Support & Perceived Judgement 

• Nine out of ten (91%) construction workers say they would be willing to support another construction worker who was experiencing depression, which is 3 percentage points lower than in 2024 (94%).  

• 45% of construction workers say they would feel ashamed talking about their mental health, addiction or suicidal thoughts with their coworkers, which is 6 percentage points higher than in the August 2024 survey (39%).  

• 35% of construction workers have used prescribed medication to treat their mental health within the past 12 months, which is 8 percentage points higher than in the August 2024 survey (27%). 

• 44% of construction workers say they have used professional mental health services or support programs within the last 12 months, which is 10 percentage points higher than in the August 2024 survey (34%).
  
• Among construction workers who have used professional mental health services or support programs within the last 12 months, more than a third (37%) say they have experienced discrimination or unfair treatment at work due to seeking mental health services or support, which is 4 percentage points lower than in 2024 (41%).
• More than 1 in 5 (21%) of construction executives admit that someone who disclosed that they are interested in seeking mental health services or support would be less likely be assigned important tasks in their organization, while 30% said that those individuals would be more closely monitored at work.
  
• 80% of construction executives say workers have access to mental health support services on the jobsite, while only 61% of construction workers believe they have mental health services available to them at work. 

Methodology:  

Methodology (Construction Executives): Clayco commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,004 executives and decision makers in the construction industry throughout the United States. In order to qualify for participation respondents must indicate they hold a position at their organization such as vice president, senior vice president, executive vice president, C-Suite, managing partner, managing director or owner/partner/founder/principle.  

The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between July 17 and July 31, 2025.  

Methodology (Construction Workers): Clayco commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,021 workers in the Construction industry throughout the United States.  

The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between July 17 and August 1, 2025. 

Atomik Research, part of 4mediagroup, is a creative market research agency. 

If you have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months, call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for more information.