The latest Wellbeing in Residential Construction Survey paint a picture of an industry making strides in addressing mental health concerns.
Promising results from the latest Wellbeing in Residential Construction Survey reveal significant improvements in workers' mental health and wellbeing. However, the findings also highlight ongoing challenges, particularly in achieving good work-life balance.
The 2024 survey, conducted by Ipsos and commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), in partnership with Live Well Build Well, is a follow-up to the baseline study from 2023. Key findings paint a picture of an industry making strides in addressing mental health concerns.
Survey highlights progress
- Workers reported lower levels of stress and loneliness compared to the previous year
- Fewer employees indicated poor emotional wellbeing
- There was a notable decrease in workers experiencing stress ‘all or most of the time’ at work
- More workers are actively engaging in activities to maintain or improve their wellbeing
These improvements suggest that industry efforts to prioritize mental health are beginning to bear fruit. The survey reinforces the importance of such initiatives, revealing a strong correlation between participation in wellbeing activities and positive mental health outcomes
Work satisfaction high, balance a challenge
While the majority of residential construction workers express high job satisfaction, the survey uncovered a growing concern regarding work-life balance:
- An increasing number of workers reported dissatisfaction with their work-life balance
- A huge 94% of respondents indicated that having a good work-life balance is important to them
- However, only two-thirds of workers are satisfied with this aspect of their current job
This highlights an area to address in order to improve overall worker wellbeing and retention
Positive workplace relationships
The survey underscores the vital role of workplace relationships in supporting mental health:
- The relationship with team members and colleagues was most frequently cited as the most positive aspect of residential construction work
- Talking to workmates about non-work topics continues to be the top action taken by workers to maintain or improve their wellbeing
Live Well, Build Well programme gains traction
The industry-specific mental health initiative is gaining momentum, the survey shows:
- Approximately one in three residential construction workers have heard of the programme.
- 18% of workers report knowing at least a little about the programme.
- Those who have benefited from Live Well, Build Well most frequently cite its provision of tools and methods to help them deal with stress.
Room for improvement
Despite positive trends, the survey indicates the overall wellbeing of residential construction workers remains slightly below that of the general New Zealand population. This suggests that while progress has been made, there is still work to be done to bring the industry in line with the rest of the country.
