Construction tops burnout despite wellbeing lead

The study found that provision of core benefits in construction outperforms the UK average. Private healthcare (16% vs. 13%), health cash plans (7% vs. 6%) and health check-ups (20% vs. 18%) all exceed national figures, and 89% of workers consider their wellbeing support useful. Yet one in four construction workers report burnout, and more than one in ten say they feel burnt out all the time. 

The figures point to a clear gap: provision is present and recognised, but it isn’t translating into prevention. The missing piece appears to be support targeted at the specific pressures construction workers face, rather than provision designed for the average workforce. 

A sector with strong foundations 

The provision data does reflect genuine commitment from construction employers. Core benefits such as private healthcare, health cash plans and health check-ups, are all above the UK average, and workers are noticing. 

“This above-average delivery of core workplace benefits in the industry is a great foundation for success. Particularly for such a labour-intensive sector, having this support in place means workers can have access to the everyday support they need most, and the specialist support when it’s necessary” said Vicky Walker, chief people officer at Westfield Health. 

With twice the number of construction workers (36%) citing a mental health improvement in the past 12 months as those who reported a decline (18%), the findings suggest the extensive delivery of wellbeing provision is driving positive outcomes within the sector. 

Progress is limited by burnout 

Despite these broadly positive trends of wellbeing provision and improving mental health, the feelings of burnout affecting a quarter of construction workers remains the biggest challenge for the sector – and the findings suggest this could be due to both workplace and lifestyle drivers. 

The top three reasons for burnout were: 

• Working long hours – 45% 
• Stresses and pressures outside work – 32% 
• Struggling to achieve a work-life balance – 26% 

Walker comments how these issues point to challenges that extend beyond what benefits packages are designed to address. 

“This pronounced trend in burnout for construction workers point to two things. Firstly, core benefits alone don’t prevent the issues that targeted support is designed to address – workers need tailored benefits support to help deal with this sort of pressure. Second, that some of the root causes extend beyond what a benefits package can reasonably be expected to address. Long hours and work-life balance are shaped by how a business operates day-to-day, and employers will need to look at both to address their burnout issues properly.” 

The research highlights where this more targeted support may be lacking. Construction workers are least likely of any sector to have tailored wellbeing information (5% vs an 8% UK average). The same goes for access to mental health days, with just 5% having that support versus a 9% UK average – this pales in comparison to the demand, with more than a quarter of those surveyed (27%) saying they’d value that support. 

What this means for construction companies in 2026 

Walker says that the sector is in an important phase of its future development if it wants to continue to build on its successes. 

“The data tells an encouraging story about how seriously construction employers are taking the health of their workforce, and workers are noticing. But provision alone only goes so far when the pressures driving burnout are largely rooted in how the working day is structured and what life looks like outside of it. 

“That doesn’t mean employers are powerless here. There’s a clear opportunity to go further with more targeted wellbeing support — whether that’s mental health support that helps to manage the stress workers are carrying home, or benefits that help ease the practical pressures that spill over from long hours and demanding schedules.” 

Only 2% of construction workers accessed mental health support through their workplace in the past year, in a sector where one in four report burnout. 

“But the most effective employers will also look at that alongside what has influence beyond the benefits package. Workload, hours and the culture around availability all play a role and no benefits offering can fully compensate for conditions that are pushing people towards burnout in the first place. Construction has strong foundations. Building on them means addressing both.”