Why is there a Skills Shortage in the UK Construction Industry?

The UK construction industry is suffering from a severe skills shortage. Whether you’re a forklift driver or project manager, recruiter or site manager, you’ll know it should be a priority for the UK construction industry to close the gap between the number of workers we’ve got, and the number we need. 

Demand for skilled construction workers continues to grow.

In 2023, the Labour manifesto promised 1.5 million new homes in England by August 2029. But with a workforce in decline it’s obvious that such an ambitious target is a challenge. In order to meet the target, tens of thousands of specific construction trades would need to be recruited, including 20,000 bricklayers, 20,000 groundworkers, 8,000 carpenters, 3,200 plasterers, and 2,400 of plumbers, electricians, and roofers.

To keep up with demand across the UK, projections suggest that by 2032, the UK will need to recruit an additional 1 million construction workers. In itself this figure seems daunting, but with the knowledge that one third of current construction workers are expected to retire by 2035, it seems impossible – unless drastic changes are made to upskill and recruit.

The Skills Shortage

Several different factors impact the skills shortage we can see across construction recruitment.

The Demographics

An ageing workforce within construction means many highly skilled workers will be retiring within the next 10 years. In the past, the construction sector was able to recruit and retain workers who spent years honing their skills and working their way up the career ladder. Now, many of those workers are about to leave the workforce, but without anyone coming up to replace them.

Gen-Z Aren’t Considering a Career in Construction

Only 19-20% of UK construction workers are under the age of 30, and construction isn’t positioned as an attractive career path for many within the Gen-Z age range. For those aged between 14 and 29 (widely labelled as Gen-Z), construction doesn’t make their list of ideal sectors to consider. In fact, only 3 – 5% of young people aged between 18 and 24 are actively considering careers in construction.

Priorities have shifted for the younger workforce, and for many, the opportunities offered within construction don’t align with their goals. Younger workers value a work-life balance, training opportunities, and flexibility. In contrast, the construction sector is known for on-site roles that offer little flexibility, and in some cases, unattractive pay packages to boot.

Brexit Talent Drain

Brexit was devastating for the construction industry and created a significant loss of highly skilled workers. Since 2019, over 200,000 EU workers have left the UK construction sector. As well as losing the workers themselves, this change put pressure on those left in the industry.

Government Policies

While the government has led initiatives and policies that would suggest an increase in investment within the construction industry, the ‘start-up’ nature of these has caused some organisations to worry about the stability of the sector.

The Cost of the Skills Gap

The skills gap has had a huge impact on those left within the construction sector, and those engaging construction professionals to work on projects.

Workmanship

One of the most obvious problems when you lose skilled workers in an industry is the quality of workmanship can suffer. With fewer experts to rely on for highly skilled labour, intricate or difficult tasks will be completed by workers with less or little experience. Unsurprisingly, this can result in work that might not be of an acceptable standard and needs to be redone, resulting in an increase in cost and time.

Turnover of Workers

Staff turnover is an issue that often causes problems for both workers and organisations. When workers fail to stay in a role for a significant amount of time, organisations can lose valuable time onboarding and retraining new workers, while simultaneously losing workers who have the experience needed to complete a project to the required standard.

Safety Concerns

Construction has the highest rate of fatal injury for any industry in the UK, with falls being recorded as the reason for the greatest number of deaths. With less skilled workers, it’s inevitable that those left in the industry will often be those with less experience and therefore less equipped to deal with the dangers of the sector.

Reputational Damage

A workforce without the right skilled trades will inevitably face difficulties. For example, a workforce of novice or inexperienced workers may be able to complete a project, but it may take them longer than it would for experienced workers. A ‘green’ workforce might also struggle to complete work that requires a specific level of skills or experience, resulting in a project that isn’t up to standard. 

An organisation that struggles to retain or recruit skilled construction workers will suffer from the unavoidable whispers that spread about their inability to complete a project within a set timeframe or to the required standard.

Why Skilled Workers Matter

Skilled workers are essential to the construction industry. Now, more than ever, we should be encouraging construction workers of all disciplines to upskill, increase their experience, and make sure they are utilising their skills to their full potential.

P.I.E.R are reshaping construction recruitment.

At P.I.E.R, we know that investment in construction workers will never go unrewarded. By helping the workers on our books to upskill, we are ensuring our clients can find the perfect tradespeople for their projects, and that our workers understand their value. 

Training is Available for Everyone

P.I.E.R offers all workers the chance to complete training that matches their current level of skills and experience. With access to over 1,500 accredited training courses, there’s a training programme to suit everyone from newly qualified tradespeople to construction workers with decades of experience in their trade. Records of all completed training are kept on file for each worker, and certificates are sent out at the end of every training programme.

Unlike other construction recruitment agencies, we value our workers. We understand that retaining a cohort of committed and confident construction workers can only be achieved by offering our workers a reason to stay with P.I.E.R. Through compliant procedures, transparent payroll options, and a person-centric approach to everything we do, we make sure every worker on P.I.E.R’s books knows they are more than just a number. 

Our Health and Safety training includes everything from Ladder Safety and Asbestos Awareness to Paediatric First Aid and Emergency First Aid. If you’re looking for something specific, please feel free to get in touch directly or browse the complete list of training courses on our website.

Online Courses

The opportunity to complete courses online ensures that training is accessible to all, regardless of location. P.I.E.R workers are across the UK and all are offered training courses that can help them develop their career.

Training for Workers and Organisations

Whether you’re a construction worker looking to expand your knowledge, or an organisation with a workforce that needs upskilling, you can arrange training through P.I.E.R. Through our bespoke training options, we can work with you to find the right training package for your project – or simply help you find a training course that will help you take a step up the career ladder.

Secure Your Project’s Future with P.I.E.R

At P.I.E.R we do all we can to support our clients and our workers. Closing the skills gap is essential for our industry to thrive, and we’re keen to assist as many UK construction workers as we can. By building a more skilled and experienced workforce, we can help increase the trust between workers and the public, and increase public confidence in the UK’s construction industry. 

Elevate your Workforce Standards

With P.I.E.R’s assistance, you can create a bespoke workforce that suits every stage of your project timeline. By getting in contact as soon as your project gets off the ground, P.I.E.R’s experienced team can help you plan the workforce you’ll need as your project progresses. P.I.E.R’s strategic approach to construction recruitment is tailored to each client, and through an understanding of each individual on their books, we can make it easier for you to find the expertise you need.

Eliminate Staffing Stress

Finding the right workforce doesn’t have to be a headache, but it does need to be considered. By offering training to all workers and all clients, there’s no reason to ‘make do’ with anyone but the best candidates for each position you need to fill. Our compliance procedures are watertight, ensuring you don’t need to focus on anything other than your project.

Reference

• https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/just-announced-labour-will-build-1-5-million-homes-to-save-the-dream-of-homeownership
• https://minipip.co.uk/details/news/uk-faces-serious-shortage-of-builders-to-meet-labour’s-1-5-million-homes-target
• https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk
• https://www.ukconstructionblog.co.uk
• https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/pfp-thrive/insights-tools/the-uk-construction-skills-shortage