UK Construction To Create 217,000 jobs

UK Construction To Create 217,000 jobs

According to the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) latest Construction Skills Network (CSN) report, UK construction output has been predicted to return to pre-pandemic 2019 levels in 2022. The CSN report suggests that the industry needs to focus on recruitment to meet the forecasted levels of activity.

Scaffolding trade magazine Scaffmag reports that according to the CSN, there will be an increase in construction workers in the UK by 2025, led by 1.7 per cent increases per year in the East Midlands,  and 1.4 per cent in the West Midlands. Scotland and Wales are also predicted to fare well with increases per year of 1.4 and 0.7 per cent respectively.

The only region that is forecast to witness a decline in construction workers in the Northeast, with -0.1 per cent per year. Major projects such as HS2 are driving growth in some regions. Infrastructure and private housing are expected to be the strongest growers.

According to the CSN report, infrastructure output will grow by 5.2 per cent per year over the next five years, which is a compound rate of over 28 per cent. Private housing is predicted to grow by 6.7 per cent per year or 38 per cent over the five years.

The report also predicts there will be increased contributions from repair, maintenance and improvement work, as well as the need to retrofit existing buildings to meet net-zero emissions targets.

By contrast, the commercial sector faces significant near-term risks while the public sectors could be impacted by tighter government finances, the report says.

Despite this, the CSN forecasts UK output to grow annually at an average rate of 4.4 per cent across 2021-2025 – or a 24 per cent compound rate over the five years.

To meet the demand of the next few years, the UK construction industry needs an additional 216,800 workers by 2025, the Construction Skills Network 2021-25 forecast concludes.

In terms of recruitment, the most in-demand trades are forecast to be wood trades and interior fit-out professionals, with 5,500 extra workers needed per year, other construction professionals and technical staff by 5,150 per year, construction managers by 3,600, and electrical installation professionals by 3,400.

There will also be substantial demand for non-construction, office-based professional, technical and IT support staff, forecast to be 7,850 extra workers per year.

CITB policy director Steve Radley said: “It’s great to see construction coming back so strongly and creating lots of job opportunities. We need to adopt new approaches to meet these growing skills needs and deliver these quickly.”

He said the CITB is working closely with the government and further education to ‘build better bridges between FE and work and make apprenticeships more flexible’.

“We must also make sure that we invest in the skills that will drive change and meet new and growing needs such as net-zero emissions and building safety. We will be announcing plans soon to tackle specific skills and occupations such as leadership and management, digital skills and skills related to energy efficiency,” he said.

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