Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) non-compliance (non-use or improper use of PPE) significantly contributes to fatal and non-fatal accidents in construction workplaces. This study conducted a comparative analysis to examine the differences in the ranking of the factors influencing PPE non-compliance between academic literature and industry practitioners. The results revealed significant discrepancies between the two groups. Among others, industry practitioners identified inadequate safety supervision as the most significant factor; this was ranked seventh in the literature. Conversely, the lack of safety training, which ranked first in the literature, was placed fourth by practitioners. Therefore, construction safety scholars should focus on the primary factors driving PPE non-compliance, as identified by industry practitioners. Focusing on industry practitioners’ feedback ensures practical, real-world insights that address current challenges and improve the applicability of research outcomes in construction safety. Thus, the study offers valuable insights to help construction safety scholars develop a focused line of inquiry.