Amongst the rubble: Leading lights in a silent crisis
The reality of a construction suicide crisis the UK has no idea about.
The statistics
In the UK alone, an average of two construction workers take their own lives everyday.
Meanwhile, in the past decade, it is estimated that 7000 construction workers have died by suicide. These deaths mean the UK will never see the 150,000 affordable homes that could have been built, nor the 78 new schools that could have educated our children.
A survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) found that in 2019, more than a quarter of tradespeople thought about taking their own lives. COVID-19 meant the lives of construction workers were flipped upside down - physical and actively minded people had no other option but to sit at home. To make matters worse, self-employed workers make up 42% of the construction industry, paving the way for financial struggle and ultimately - ill mental health. To put this into perspective, less than a quarter of all other occupations are self-employed.
In 2021, 507 workers lost their lives to ill mental health. Unskilled labourers continue to face the biggest crisis. 2021 saw 85 unskilled workers per 100,000 take their own lives - 3.7 times higher than the national average. Meanwhile, whilst the world was recovering from COVID, this industry didn't. Construction managers and professionals who have previously had relatively stable suicide rates saw a 84% rise in 2021 from 5 to 11 deaths per 100,000.
The Lost City - Project 7000
On The Tools is the UK's largest online construction based community. Their aim is to entertain, inform and empower tradespeople.
A crisis explained
A survey carried out by On The Tools - a champion voice and unofficial union for tradespeople found that 39% of tradespeople in the UK have said that they have experienced mental ill health in the past. Meanwhile, a third reported that they are currently experiencing these problems. In total, an eye-opening 73% of the UK's tradespeople have either experienced or are currently experiencing poor mental health.
In a comparative survey, On The Tools found that less than half of UK citizens who dont work in construction had been effected by mental ill health at some point in their life.
This tells us that in the UK today, construction workers are a quarter more likely to experience mental ill health.
A devastating 93% of UK tradespeople surveyed had been affected in one way or another by mental ill health. Whether it be currently affected, previously affected or have known a colleague who is/ has struggled.
The Skills shortage the construction industry continues to face has set about further precedence for ill mental health. It has recently been reported by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) that over 250,000 extra tradespeople are needed to meet the sectors growth target of 2.4% annually. This massive figure shows how much pressure our construction workers are under to complete jobs, even when the need for staff is so prominent.
'Closing the gap' - a white paper released by On The Tools stated that only 45% of the UK public is aware of the skills shortage in construction.
Trapped by masculinity
Nationwide, there is a gruesome lack of understanding when it comes to the physical and mental well-being of our tradespeople.
When asked, just over a quarter of consumers either strongly disagreed or disagreed that tradespeople are more affected by mental ill health than all other professions. Simultaneously, 34% of those surveyed said they were unsure.
When discussing mental health in the construction industry there is a deep routed stereotype both within the sector's workforce and within the public as consumers that they are 'lads lads' and therefore Macho Culture is widely accepted as the norm.
A report by Mates in Mind found that close to 70% of 'tradies' agreed there is a stigma about mental health which stops people from talking about it. In 2021, it was found that one in five construction workers had been victims of bullying in the workplace. Half of 21-24 year olds and 43% of 25-34 year olds reported that the bullying they experienced was labelled as banter.
When the floodlights come on: On The Tools
In a conversation with Lee Wilcox, CEO and co-founder of On The Tools, he outlined the struggles involved with being at the epicentre of constructions mental health crisis. Wilcox said: "I don't know what the construction minister does if i'm being completely honest, they certainly don't have much breadth in construction let alone outside of it. The challenge we have is that we need more people outside of construction to care about it's problems.
"We create the best social media content in construction to improve the lives of UK tradespeople. We work with brands to promote services and products, create content and campaigns such as The Lost City to try and support tradespeople and their problems.
"At some point it will effect the general economy enough that things will start to change, I would like construction to be recognised in its own right and maybe have its own department.
"One of the things that always struck me and that we started to ask more questions about is that the construction industry is this weird industry that exists, its absolutely huge, I think its the third biggest contributor to the UK economy and has over three million working within it. And if you really look at it, its the air we breathe, some of the things that get built in this country are mind-blowing - yet they dont have a specific union, theres no representation of Government, theres no department of construction.
"We have the highest contributor of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprise) and yet the highest suicide rate and highest fallout of businesses going under than any other industry. They dont correlate, we contribute so much as an industry but we dont have the support."
Touching on the skills gap within the industry, Wilcox said: "The skills gap is a huge issue and ultimately, I think alot of what tradespeople go through or the lack of support all contributes to the skills shortage and gap we've got, suicide being one of them.
"If my daughter came to me when she was leaving school and said im going into construction I would feel mixed about it. I would on one hand be excited and proud and on the other hand scared because as a parent, your child choosing to go into the industry that has the highest suicide rate out of any industry has to warrant some form of discussion.
" Education is a massive problem in the sense that it's looked down upon. 25 years ago when I was picking my options and leaving school, if you were going into the construction industry you had failed, you had done something wrong - and I still think this is the mantra of mainstream education.
"Everything is set up for people to go to university not to learn and use their skills in a different way, not everyone is the same. The people I know in construction and the output we get is from some of the most talented and intelligent people i've ever met.
"The things that our construction force have built in this country is an incredible feat and definitely not something to be loooked down upon. And that's what fustrates me, the education system is not set up for people who are meant to be in the construction industry.
"And therefore, in an industry that already has its challenges, you have young people entering it and on their first day they feel like their being told they've failed. I think it's horrific, it's a terrible way for anyone to start a career in anything.
"I think the challenge we're going to have is that some of these problems that the country is going to face because of the skills shortage, will come to fruition sooner than people think. But maybe that's what's needed, maybe that's what needs to happen before more money is invested into people joining the industry and facing it's challenges.
"There's not another industry this could happen in where you could have the highest suicide rate and nothing be done about it. You wouldnt have 7000 doctors take their own lives in the last ten years and the department of health allow that to happen.
"And rightly so, this should never happen but tradespeople just get left behind 'oh he'll be alright' sort of thing - and I think that's a travesty and needs to change so that's what we're fighting for."
What lies in the mud for construction's future?
It was reported by BBC in December of 2024 that the UK doesnt have enough tradespeople to fulfil Labour's promise of 1.5 million new homes by 2029. The government admitted there was a "dire shortage" of tradespeople but said it was "taking steps to rectify" the problem. As of right now, . BBC stated that in order for Labour to succeed, an essential 20,000 bricklayers would need to be employed as well as 8,000 carpenters and 2,400 electicians to name a few of the trades.
The Department for Business and Trade confirmed that the Health and Safety Executive held a summit in November of last year with the aim of developing solutions to construction's problems and that they will be working with the Construction Leadership Council to create an action plan and drive change across the entire sector.
I spoke with Daniel Jacobs, a multi-trade apprentice (Painting and Decorating, Carpentry) on the Isle of Wight. We discussed apprenticeships, the skills gap and being Gen-Z in construction:
"An apprenticeship has definitely benefitted me and what I want from my life, it gives me confidence and the opportunity to learn and earn at the same time. During school there was very limited talk about construction jobs, I would for sure say the younger generations have shown an increased interest in becoming a tradesperson - but it needs to be talked about more in schools as a career option. It was a challenge to enter, with the sterotypes that come with it, but if you have the mindset and willingness - I think there's a career for you.
"I was unaware of the mental health crisis when I entered the construction world but, being in it now I can understand. There is a lot of pressure on you to perform and know everything about a job you're on - especially as an apprentice, a common fear is failure. Not knowing what you're doing or being a slower learner does impact you mentally, I am lucky that I have the support of my mentor, co-workers and family."
Dan Cundall, an apprentice electrician on the Isle of Wight has felt his apprenticeship has left much to be desired: "The apprenticeship itself was relatively hard to get into with all the interviews, I got lucky as my tutor was looking for an apprentice at the time and he offered it to me. I have been at the college for four, nearly five years now - there is probably easier ways to get into the industry in hindsight, however being on site definitely benefits you with practicality and confidence.
"Apprenticeships get people trained 100% and does this effectively however, the time it takes is ridiculous and frankly too long. I think Labour's goal is unachievable given its taken four-five years to get trained."
Lee Wilcox outlined what On The Tools is bringing to the table this year as well as, what he hopes to see from industry pioneers and Westminster.
"Our mission is every tradesperson in the UK, not just some."
Wilcox said: "There feels like there is becoming a turning point, I think its because of the housing crisis but I dont really care how it happens - I just care that it happens."
The Department for Business and Trade also added that the CITB has trained a surplus of 100 college staff and 200 apprentices in mental health and created a Wellbeing portal that all those working in the sector have access to.
On The Tools most recent campaign, The Lost City - Project 7000 highlights the 7000 tradespeople that have taken their own lives in the past decade. They aim to raise £2.5 million across the next three years in order to provide therapy for 7000 members of the construction industry.
Wilcox said: "One of the big things that we think is really important about The Lost City is how we get more brands and people involved in general. We actually need to galvanise the industry and tradespeople to fundraise on behalf of The Lost City.
"For now, I think its the responsibilty of the industry itself, the main contractors- the main house builders. They are huge organisations that make incredible amounts of money, they should look after the workforce more. Government funded organisations like CITB should be doing more to drive bigger campaigns."
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: "The level of suicide in the construction industry is unacceptably high and we are commited to working with the sector to improve occupational and mental health and reduce onsite fatalities.
"The sector is essential to delivering our mission of economic growth, and our ambitious plans for 1.5m new homes. We are working with the industry to pilot new forms of training and apprenticeships to ensure the sector has the skills it needs."
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