Stress At Work – Construction Area

Almost three quarters of construction project managers throughout Australia experience at least moderate levels of stress at work.

In a study involving 489 participants, Bond University compared experiences regarding work and personal stress of three worker groups.

1. Construction project managers (253 participants)

2. Construction administration personnel (124 participants) 

3. Workers who do not work in construction (112 participants). 

It found that construction project managers experienced greater stress at work compared with employees across the other two categories. Almost 73 percent of project managers surveyed rated their levels of work-related stress at 50 percent or higher. 

This compares with almost six in ten (58 percent) construction administration personnel and six in ten (60 percent) non-construction related workers who gave similar ratings for their work-related stress levels. 

Further, almost one quarter of construction project managers (24 percent) surveyed indicated that stress has a 70 percent or higher impact on their performance at work. 

This compares with one in five (20 percent) construction administration personnel and one in ten non-construction workers. 

As well, levels of extreme work-related stress (90 percent or above) were lower amongst construction project managers and construction administration personnel compared with workers in non-construction occupations (see chart). 

Moreover, the overall stress levels (personal and work) remain high. 

Across all surveyed, 58 percent

indicated that their levels of stress was higher than what they would have liked. 

Other Findings

• Across all three types of workers, most reported that their  managers were not trained to identify signs of stress. 
• Across all role types, most participants say employee assistance programs on their own are insufficient to address stress related concerns in their organisation. 

• Most participants disagreed with notions that issues of stress should be left to individuals to address and agreed that organisations should train leaders and managers in stress avoidance techniques. 
• The vast majority believed organisations should train all employees in stress management. 
• Workers across 81 percent, 56 percent and 39 percent of small, medium and large organisations reported that their employers had a stress avoidance program (most commonly process oriented rules relating to work hours), although some construction workers felt this can be counter-productive where schedules are in danger of being missed and non-moveable deadlines are approaching. 

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