THE ANNUAL industry forecast from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) highlights the continuing persistent gap between demand and the workforce available to meet it.

CITB’s Construction Skills Network (CSN) 2024-28 report reveals that:

UK construction output:

rose by 2% in 2023, the third consecutive year of growth
will grow by an average 2.4% a year between now and 2028

To meet this growth, 251,500 extra construction workers are needed over the next 5 years, with construction employment rising to 2.75m by 2028.

The major opportunities are in:

Private housing
Infrastructure
Repair and maintenance

Demand for Construction Workers 

Despite the industry managing to recruit around 200,000 people every year, in 2023, an average of 38,000 vacancies were advertised per month.

For almost a third (31%) of construction employers, finding suitably skilled staff remains their key challenge. More older workers are retiring than being replaced. Although the construction industry recruited 200,000 new workers, it saw the loss of more (210,000 workers).

CITB says there is an ongoing difference between the predicted need for construction work and the available workforce. The disparity shows how important it is for the industry to tackle effective recruitment and training to replace those leaving. It will help businesses to better prepare for the future, and take advantage of opportunities such as productivity improvements and meeting net zero retrofit targets.

Recruitment Initiatives

CITB says it has invested £267m to help the industry improve diversity, quality and productivity. Additionally, it is making construction a more attractive career choice for future generations. The investment will directly support three expanded initiatives to help employers meet demand:

New Entrant Support Team (NEST) – helping employers to navigate the recruitment process, access grants and training, when and where needed
Industry Impact Fund – making direct funding available for employers to design and test new solutions for recruitment and retention
Employer Network – rolling it out nationwide to enable local employers to set their own funding priorities and meet area-specific skills needs.

‘People Pipeline’ is Critical

Tim Balcon, CITB CEO

Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said: “The UK construction industry will continue to grow, but needs more people in the workforce with the right skills.

“There has always been a demand for workers, and CITB’s CSN report drives home how many are leaving the sector compared to those joining, and the opportunities for employers to address this challenge by recruiting and developing a skilled, competent, and diverse workforce that is able to meet current and future needs.

“The ‘people pipeline’ is critical to sector growth, but other improvements are also important, including productivity and technological innovation. This is why our commitment to investing over £267m to ensure the skills system is fit for purpose – now and in the future – is so significant.

“The past few years have posed many challenges for the industry and as a sector we have shown significant resilience. 2024 and beyond hosts a more positive outlook and through a joined-up approach to recruit, train, develop and upskill talent, CITB will continue to play a crucial role in supporting an industry that is a key driver of the UK economy.”

View the Construction Skills Network 2024-28 report.

>> Read more about CITB in the news

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