The construction industry needs more than 250,000 extra workers to cope with output growth over the next five years, the sector’s training board has said.
Around 50,000 extra workers will be needed each year from 2024 to 2028 to meet demand, according to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). This is up from the 45,000 it estimated would be needed each year from 2023 to 2027.
The CITB predicted that construction output is expected to grow by 2.4 per cent on average each year to 2028, driven by private housing, infrastructure and repair and maintenance work.
Nearly a fifth of the new workers will be needed in the South West, it added, where Hinkley Point C needs the most labour.
Tata Group also recently committed to building a £4bn electric vehicle battery plant in Somerset, while Bristol is primed for major redevelopment including 1,400 new homes in Hengrove Park and a mixed-use scheme on the site of the Galleries shopping centre.
The West Midlands and Greater London are other construction hotspots, requiring 35,600 and 26,250 extra workers respectively for major regeneration schemes in Smithfield, Coventry, Brent Cross and Thamesmead.
Worker numbers have not kept pace with the growth in opportunities. The CITB calculated that 210,000 workers left the industry last year and 200,000 joined, while the number of job vacancies averaged about 38,000 each month last year.
Carpenters, joiners, steel erectors, metal workers, plumbers and HVAC workers are projected to grow their ranks the most in the next five years.
Professional and technical workers are the most in demand, with 10,950 non-construction office-based workers and 8,670 construction professionals needed by 2028. The biggest worker shortfalls within the trades are general labourers, electricians, plant operatives and carpenters and joiners.
CITB chief executive Tim Balcon said: “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.”
