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Stress Builds across UK Construction

A majority of UK construction professionals surveyed by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) felt that the construction industry today is more stressful than it was five years ago.

Almost 1000 construction managers and other professionals took part in the CIOB research to establish whether occupational stress is occurring within the construction industry. The research studied the main causes of occupational stress by examining different areas of the individual’s role within the organisation, including physical work environment, the organisation itself and other construction specific potential stressors such as site safety and public misconceptions of the industry.

Although respondents worked for various types of organisations the largest group (41%) were employed in companies with more than 500 employees and were aged between 25 and 55.

Of the 68% to have suffered from stress, anxiety or depression only 27% had sought medical advice, and only 6% of those who had experienced occupational stress had taken time off and were still working.

Skills shortages are also a cause of occupational health issues, with 55% of respondents indicating that inadequate staffing levels was a factor in causing stress.

Michael Brown CIOB deputy chief executive said, “Most people would recognise that occupational health issues like stress, anxiety and depression are present in every industry. The construction industry however can in one breath be challenging and stimulating, providing exciting careers and a great sense of achievement, and in the next the pressures can take their toll raising stress levels and tipping individuals into anxiety and depression.

“This research suggests that the impact on the individual’s performance, and their colleagues, must be significant and disturbing in that many respondents will be responsible for the health and safety of others.

“The research also shows that only 6% of those who have suffered stress admit to having taken time off as a direct result. However, 51% of respondents indicated that taking time off helps them to cope with occupational stress. This difference may be due to a perception that they would be stigmatized and that there would be a negative impact on their career if they admitted to suffering from stress.

“We also need to be aware that poor planning, lack of feedback and generally poor communications feature highly as a cause of stress. These demonstrate weaknesses in management and must be addressed as a matter of good practice.

“The Health and Safety Executive have estimated that across all industries almost 13 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety and occupational stress costs businesses at least £4bn.” A copy of the full report is available CIOB's website or by emailing

Email: stownsend@ciob.org.uk