What is driving the construction skills gap?

What is driving the construction skills gap?

The UK construction sector is experiencing a serious skills shortage, with evidence of a widening gap that threatens to grind ambitious infrastructure projects to a halt before they ever begin.

Slower economic growth and a lack of new housing could be consequences, as could the number of young people joining the industry.

1. Shrinking pipeline: the decline in apprenticeships

A huge factor is the decline in apprenticeships. In the past, apprenticeships provided a clear pathway into skilled trades. However, a number of factors, including a reduced Government commitment to training, have led to a considerable reduction in numbers.

Just 5 per cent of school leavers think of working in construction – and that lack of early exposure translates directly into a reduced number of skilled workers entering the world of work.

2. The greying workforce: an aging industry

Making matters worse is a greying workforce. The workforce age profile peaks at between 50-64 years old. When the older workforce retires, their skills and knowledge may be lost, unless there are enough young replacements.

3. Rebranding required: the image problem

The industry has an image problem too. Caricatures of building jobs – dirty, physically demanding, unskilled, lacking in progression – act as a disincentive to many school leavers and graduates.

Yet there are thousands of different construction jobs, many of them offering high rewards for a low barrier to entry, and real-time evidence of the positive impact your work is making.

4. Bridging the gap: solutions for a skilled future

There are steps that can be taken. A rise in government support for apprenticeships, with corresponding efforts to increase awareness of construction careers in school, could halt the recruitment crisis.

It is also a matter of giving digital skills to those currently working in construction who will have to adapt to this new normal. Training schemes that are tailor-made to address the digital divide, and Virtual Reality programs like our VR Constructor, can equip workers with the skills they need, making construction a viable option for the future.

5. Career progression

Finally, opening up avenues for career progression within the industry is a way to keep current workers involved in construction and also to appeal to new talent looking to make a long-term career for themselves.

The CITB funded ILM Level 3 in Leadership and Management in Construction is a good place to start for people who want to progress in their careers and learn new skills.