Study finds blue collar workers at highest risk of suicide
· Medical Xpressedited by Swati Mestri, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
Swati Mestri
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Andrew Zinin
Chief Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
peer-reviewed publication
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
A new national study of suicide rates across occupations in Australia shows blue-collar male workers are still substantially overrepresented, underscoring the need for greater attention to occupation-specific factors that might increase risk.
The RMIT University and University of Melbourne study, published in BMJ Public Health, analyzed more than 20,000 suicide deaths among employed Australians ages 15–64 between 2001 and 2022.
The first-of-its-kind study showed a strong pattern of men in certain occupations dying by suicide at higher rates than men in other occupations.
Occupations with higher suicide rates tend to share key characteristics: They are manual, physically demanding frontline roles. Suicide rates among male construction and mining laborers were three to four times higher than in most other occupational groups, followed by machine and plant operators, farm and forestry workers, and automotive and engineering trades workers.
Rates were also high, though slightly lower, in health, media and arts, hospitality, protective services and office support roles.
Study senior author RMIT Associate Professor Tania King said there were clear patterns among occupational groups with higher suicide rates, with little meaningful improvement over the past two decades.
"Our research shows suicide risk isn't random: there is a clear pattern of suicide risk across different occupations," she said.
"And we particularly see this when specialization, gender and certain working conditions collide."
Workers in the industries identified as high-risk are often exposed to hazardous environments, long and irregular hours, physical strain and limited control over their work.
These pressures—from injury-prone tasks to poor conditions and low autonomy—can compound stress and erode mental well-being.
King said while some industries have made progress, many haven't moved at all in 20 years.
"That tells us the problem is at least partly due to the systems they're working in."
The study highlights an urgent need for structural, industry-specific action to reduce suicide risk in the workplace.
Different patterns across gender
The study compared suicide risk across all 43 occupational groups and examined how these risks differ for men and women over time.
While women overall continue to face much lower rates of suicide than men, there were some industries where rates for women were higher than in other industries.
In some occupations, such as health professionals and mobile plant operators, women faced more than double the suicide risk of women in other jobs.
However, the pattern of higher suicide rates among more manual frontline workers seen among men did not apply to women.
Industries where women showed elevated suicide risk relative to other employed women included both professional and more manual frontline occupations, with the highest risk observed among health professionals, automotive and engineering trades workers, and mobile plant operators.
Study first author Dr. Humaira Maheen of the University of Melbourne said despite overall national suicide rates remaining relatively unchanged over the past decade, only six occupational groups showed meaningful declines—typically in more specialized roles that already had lower baseline risk.
The industries showing declines were business, HR and marketing professionals; automotive and engineering trades workers; other technicians and trades workers; sales representatives and agents; storepersons; and cleaners and laundry workers.
"Some of these occupations already had relatively low baseline rates, and that may reflect protective factors like high job control, stronger job security, better pay, and access to mental health support programs—advantages that more specialized or professional roles often have," Maheen said.
Industry reform needed
King said the study findings provide a clear evidence base to target workplace suicide prevention strategies toward the occupational groups most at risk, including those whose risk may have grown over time.
Programs like MATES in Construction show that when industries invest in peer-led support, prioritize mental health and provide accessible pathways to support, they can build safer environments for workers in high-pressure roles.
"Real change will require industry-level reform," she said.
"Better job security, safer conditions and clear access to mental health support are not optional—they're lifesaving."
Publication details
Humaira Maheen et al, Suicide across occupational groups in Australia, 2001–2022: a retrospective mortality study, BMJ Public Health (2026). DOI: 10.1136/bmjph-2025-003662
Journal information: BMJ Public Health
Key medical concepts
Clinical categories
PsychiatryPsychology & Mental healthOccupational medicine Provided by RMIT University Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
Citation: Study finds blue collar workers at highest risk of suicide (2026, September 17) retrieved 17 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-blue-collar-workers-highest-suicide.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.