Building Colorado Also Means Caring for the People Who Built It

Colorado’s construction, design, and development professionals are shaping the future of our state every day. You are building the schools, housing, infrastructure, and public spaces our communities rely on. But behind every project, timeline, and milestone is something more important than the work itself: the people doing the work. 

And many of this population’s people are carrying much more than what is visible on the surface. 

The construction industry consistently ranks among the professions with the highest suicide rates in the country. Although construction represents only about 7% of the U.S. workforce, it accounts for nearly 1 in 5 industry-related suicide deaths.¹ This reality is stark: in 2023, more than 5,000 construction workers died by suicide, compared to about 1,000 who died from jobsite injuries.² 

Research also highlights cultural barriers that exist across many workplaces. Nearly half of construction workers report feeling ashamed discussing mental health, substance use, or suicidal thoughts with co-workers, which can make it harder for people to seek support early. ³ 

The same survey data point to encouraging progress: more construction workers report using mental health services, support programs, or prescribed medications in the past year than in the year before.³ That shift matters. It suggests that as conversations become more visible and support becomes more accessible, more people are beginning to seek care rather than struggle alone. 

These are not abstract numbers. They reflect real people on real jobsites and in real offices across Colorado.