Day Laborers and Mental Health: The Struggles We Often Overlook

The reality is that day laborers face unique stressors that put them at higher risk for issues like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Studies on worker health have repeatedly shown that industries with irregular schedules and physically demanding jobs see higher rates of poor mental health outcomes. Furthermore, undocumented workers make up a large percentage of the day labor force, and the uncertainties that come with that status add an extra layer of fear and anxiety to their daily lives. Understanding all of these challenges is the first step toward change.

For most day laborers, the question is not “what time do I start tomorrow” but “will I even have work tomorrow?” This uncertainty creates constant stress. According to research from Berkeley, low-wage and unpredictable jobs increase harmful stress levels, which over time can contribute to chronic anxiety and poor health outcomes.

Many day laborers work alone, move between job sites, and spend long stretches away from family. Social isolation and discrimination both increase the risk of poor mental health and lower quality of life. People describe this as a heavy loneliness that does not lift, and over time it can become depression.

When stress, isolation, and discrimination pile up, some people turn to alcohol or drugs to take the edge off. Studies with day laborers describe exactly that pattern. Men reported using alcohol or other substances to get through anxiety, sadness, or hopelessness tied to work and life pressures.

Construction and similar trades are common placements for day laborers. Research across the construction sector shows a high burden of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems, along with elevated risks for substance misuse and suicide. Work stress is strongly linked to poor mental health in this workforce.

At a national level, mental health outcomes differ by industry and by occupation. That means job type itself is part of the picture, not only personal factors.

A community study of 138 day laborers in the East San Francisco Bay Area documented frequent food insecurity, discrimination, employer abuses, and dangerous work. Nearly eight in ten respondents said they had done dangerous jobs such as roofing or working on scaffolds. Many also reported theft, assaults, or being paid less than agreed. These are the kinds of experiences that drive stress and make people feel like they are on their own.

What the data say about day laborers’ mental health

Several focused studies with Latino day laborers help explain the patterns many day laborers face, regardless of ethnicity or immigration background.

• In a recruited sample at a worker center, 39 percent screened positive for moderate or severe depression and 25 percent for moderate or severe anxiety. Discrimination, unstable housing, and acculturation stress tracked with worse mental health.
  
• Ethnographic work documents social isolation, fear of authorities, exploitation, and the use of alcohol or drugs to cope with distress. 

These studies focus on Latino workers, but the mechanisms they surface are general. Irregular income, high physical demand, isolation, and discrimination are risk factors for anyone in day labor across communities.

• Services are limited. Cost, transportation, language access, and a shortage of culturally competent providers create significant obstacles.
  
  
• Community groups fill the gap. Worker centers and nonprofits often provide screenings, support groups, and navigation to clinics. In the East Bay, for example, the Multicultural Institute has helped connect day laborers not only to safer jobs but also to health and legal resources. 

• A few groups that can be found in Los Angeles:
• Los Angeles Worker Center Network (LAWCN)
• City of Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) Day Labor Program 
• CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) Workers’ Rights & Labor Legal Services. They also run the EMPLEO (Employment, Education & Outreach) assistance line.

• Stigma persists. In many communities, mental health remains difficult to talk about. Lack of awareness and lingering stigma keep many from reaching out for help.
  

Talking about mental health does not have to be complicated. It can begin with a simple “how are you holding up” at a hiring site, a church gathering, or a community event. Small check-ins about sleep, stress, mood, or even substance use can open doors. Reports like the one from UNI Global Union remind us that when workplaces and communities create space for these conversations, stigma goes down and people are more likely to seek help.

Day laborers often cannot take time off or travel far for services. That is why care needs to come to them. Mobile health clinics at hiring sites, hotlines in the languages people speak, or drop-in counseling hours after work can make a big difference. Connecting workers to safer jobs also creates pathways to legal aid and mental health resources.

The biggest gains come when we address problems at their source. Safer worksites, fair pay, clear ways to report abuse, and more predictable schedules all help lower stress before it becomes overwhelming. Mental health care at work is a basic right and should urge us to prevent unnecessary stressors instead of only treating the consequences.

If you want to learn more, find resources, or get involved, visit FundaMental Change.

• Explore free tools, resources, and community programs designed to make mental health care more accessible.
  
• Join upcoming events that bring people together to talk about mental health openly and without stigma.
  
• Volunteer, donate, or partner with us to expand the reach of culturally competent support for vulnerable workers and families.

And if you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 in the United States.

At FundaMental Change, we believe mental health is not a privilege but a right. Together, we can make that right a reality for day laborers and for every community.