6 in 10 Construction Workers Report Anxiety, Depression in Past Year

Nearly two-thirds of construction workers reported experiencing anxiety or depression in the past 12 months, according to a new survey by design-build firm Clayco.

Sixty-four percent of the more than 1,000 construction workers surveyed said they felt the impact of these mental health challenges in the past year—up from 54% in 2024.

“For an industry that has made huge strides in improving and promoting the physical safety of our workers, it is time that we focus, collectively, on addressing the mental health and psychological safety issues faced by the entire construction sector,” said Clayco CEO Anthony Johnson.

The firm noted that, encouragingly, its study found that more construction workers (44%) have utilized mental health services or taken prescribed medications to treat a mental health issue in the last year, but many (45%) still say they feel ashamed to talk about their mental health issues.

Thirty-seven percent report being discriminated against at work when they do.

“As leaders, we need to use this moment to take responsibility for creating the best possible work and support environments,” Johnson said. “That means not just treating cases when they arise, but making sure every worker feels valued, supported, and able to thrive. If we commit to that, we can begin to reduce the number of people in our industry who are carrying this weight alone.”

This marked the second consecutive year that Clayco surveyed more than 1,000 construction workers in the U.S. on issues related to mental health. The 2025 edition of the survey—conducted in the summer by Atomik Research—also polled more than 1,000 construction industry executives and decision makers.

Clayco found that while 80% of construction executives say that workers have access to mental health support services on the jobsite, just 61% of construction workers report feeling they have access to those resources.

In follow-up correspondence, Dan Lester, vice president of field culture and inclusion at Clayco, said that the biggest takeaway from Clayco’s survey is that mental health challenges in the construction industry continue to deepen and will require an industry-wide effort to address.

He noted that while significant year-over-year increases in both depression and substance misuse are concerning, the jumps could also be a sign that individuals—despite perceived stigma—are becoming more willing and open to admitting and talking about their problems because of increased awareness of both mental health issues and resources.

“For example, our survey found that more construction workers say they have utilized mental health services and support programs or taken a prescribed medication to treat a mental health issue in the last 12 months than they did in the previous year,” Lester said.

Photo: Generated with AI, AdobeStock

Topics Trends Construction