A shortage of skilled workers has been a longstanding issue for the UK construction industry; first gaining major attention in 2008 during the financial crash, which saw the loss of a colossal 400,000 construction jobs. Ever since this crash, the number of skilled workers has been on a gradual decline. To make matters worse, total construction output in the UK fell by a record 40.1% in April 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Construction projects were put on hold and strict on-site measures became commonplace, leading to a further exodus of skilled workers seeking new opportunities in other sectors.
As it stands, UK construction currently accounts for roughly 7% of the GDP and generates approximately £90 billion annually, which begs the question: Why hasn’t something been done sooner to safeguard one of the UK’s leading sectors?
First, it’s important to recognise what’s causing the shortage of skilled workers:
An Ageing Workforce
Over 20% of the construction workforce are over 50 and 15% in their sixties, with many due to retire in the coming years. However, the same percentage of young people are not entering this profession. A scarcity of new workers in the pipeline clearly shows a lack of interest from the younger generations. But why is this?
Society’s Perception
Construction has had a difficult time shaking the stigma of being a male-dominated physical labour profession, a perception widely held by society. In reality, it is a much more complex industry with roles in project management, architectural design and quantity surveying, inclusive for all audiences. A career in construction requires quick and creative thinking, excellent people skills and a good knowledge of history and design – young people are likely failing to see this side of things.
The Digital Age
This poor perception is coupled with the fact that construction has been slow to adapt to the digital age, and young people have taken notice of this. Technology is essentially introduced to the younger generation at birth, and they’ve spent their entire lives becoming fluent in modern technology. They are now keen to pursue careers in industries that recognise its potential.
How can these shortages be resolved?
So, what can be done? The construction sector is still facing a huge shortage but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Simply put, the construction industry needs to become a more desirable career path for future workers.
Improve Education & Awareness
More emphasis needs to be placed on working with schools and colleges to promote the construction industry, to show young people the variety of career paths construction has to offer. This should also help to address the gender imbalance in construction because as it stands, women only account for 12% of the workforce. Encouraging greater diversity in the workforce will provide a wider pool of potential skilled workers, who can contribute new ideas to the table and help businesses connect with a wider range of clients.
The Importance of Training
Many businesses choose to look externally for new talent, however, they should instead begin to consider looking internally and use it as an opportunity to upskill their current staff. Choosing to nurture talent within the business, reflects positively on a company and helps to develop careers and skillsets. There are currently a number of government-funded schemes available to assist with the training of future workers.
At Dewey Group, we’re committed to improving industry standards and working towards a better future. Our in house training division provides a range of construction-related courses delivered to the highest standard, using only the best trainers, testers, and assessors.
Apprenticeships are also an excellent way of introducing more talent into the industry. Workers can gain hands-on experience and are shown a clear path to progression, gaining industry-recognised qualifications on the way. We recognise the importance of investing in the future generation, which is why our newly created piling attendant apprenticeship aims to accomplish just that. If the industry collaborates together as a whole, there seems to be a clear path towards resolving the UK skilled workers shortage.
What are your thoughts? Let’s get the conversation started.