A quarter of construction professionals believe 'better career advice in schools' would help fix the skills shortage gap facing the sector, according to survey

September 2022

A quarter of construction professionals believe 'better career advice in schools' would help fix the skills shortage gap facing the sector: A survey of people working in the construction industry has revealed that around a quarter of respondents (26%) believe that the number one solution to addressing the current skills shortage is to offer better career advice to students, in order to paint a better picture of the industry and its opportunities.

UK Construction Week Birmingham polled 1,100 construction industry workers across the sector, asking about solutions for addressing the skills shortages, ahead of its annual Construction Week show at Birmingham NEC.

Amongst the respondents surveyed were architects, engineers, house builders, installers, joiners, contractors and consultants representing a good cross section of the industry.

As well as 'better career advice in schools', respondents also said that a long-term strategy for attracting and retaining talent was a key factor.

When asked about what they felt the barriers are to young people joining the industry, almost a quarter (23%) said that construction is perceived as a 'dirty job', while one in five (19%), again, said a lack of careers advice. Fifteen percent said that the fact construction is still perceived as being male-dominated industry could be a barrier.

When looking more at the skills gap affecting the sector, almost six in ten said that it has become worse or stayed at the same level over the past two years. When asked about the top causes of this, a fifth (19%) pointed to 'the great resignation' whilst others top answers included 'uncertainty' (17%) and long lead times and the rising costs of materials (17%).

Looking to the future and what the construction industry may look like by mid-century, the top answers given were a more diverse/female workforce’; ‘more use of AI’; ‘increase in mechanisation/robotics’; and ‘it will be more lucrative and attractive to graduates’.

When asked for their opinions on the best thing about a career in construction, a quarter of survey participants said the tangible results (25%), while others pointed to learning new skills (20%), and that 'no two days are ever the same' (15%).