Labor Shortages and Safety Concerns Lead 2025 Construction Challenges
Key Highlights
- Over half of respondents struggle with inconsistent use of personal protective equipment, impacting safety effectiveness.
- Nearly half of companies lack confidence in their training programs' ability to prepare workers for safe, compliant work environments.
- Employee mental health is often overlooked, with many organizations not prioritizing worker well-being.
NEENAH, Wisconsin — The J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights and the American Society of Safety Professionals have released the 2025 Construction Industry Safety Challenges study, offering new data on the pressures shaping job site safety and compliance. According to the report, labor shortages, rising material costs, and job site safety remain the top challenges facing construction professionals.
The study found that 54% of respondents struggle with inconsistent personal protective equipment wear, identifying it as the leading obstacle to effective safety practices. Many companies also report gaps in workforce readiness, with 48% saying they are only somewhat confident or not confident that their current training prepares employees to work safely and in compliance with regulations.
Employee well-being emerged as another concern. More than half of respondents said their organizations take mental health only somewhat seriously or not seriously at all. In addition, 38 percent of participants indicated they lack a proactive approach to safety and regulatory compliance.
J. J. Keller senior EHS editor Ray Chishti said the study provides essential insight into the conditions safety professionals navigate daily. He noted that accurate data helps organizations better understand where safety programs are performing well and where improvements are needed. Gabriel Atencio of ASSP added that identifying the industry’s most persistent challenges is key to strengthening safety culture and reducing risk.
The report includes findings on safety practices, personal protective equipment usage, training programs, technology adoption, and worker wellness.
The full study is available for free to the public via J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. or the ASSP website.
Note: This piece was created with the help of generative AI tools and edited by our content team for clarity and accuracy.