The British construction industry is facing a major recruitment crisis with 168,500 workers needed in the next five years but a “stigma” problem stopping youngsters from entering a multi-billion pound industry.
And that could cause a headache for the nation as a shortage of skilled workers could mean housing targets being missed, investment lost and shoddy workmanship resulting in substandard buildings.
A report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) predicts construction output will grow by 1.3% a year between 2019 and 2023, and that nationally tens of thousands of jobs will be created.
The South West will see a 5.9% increase in employment, the CITB says, the second highest in the UK, only topped in the North East, with a 6.1% hike.
It comes as new stats show the value of all construction contracts awarded in July 2019 was £5.1billion – 11% higher than in July 2018.
This all brings challenges, with the expected decline in European labour putting strain on an industry with an ageing workforce and a need for an infusion of fresh blood.
But youngsters are being put off from entering the industry because of an image problem which means they view construction as being peopled by “hairy builders sitting at the side of the road”.
In Plymouth an event for school leavers and career changers was attended by construction industry “ambassadors”, experienced professionals who visit schools and careers events to dispel “myths” about the building trades.
Lewis Tolputt, of Plymouth-based Classic Builders, said the skills shortage was a major problem and is being overlooked in many parts of the country.
“There are more people going out with retirement than coming in,” he said. “It’s created a huge skills shortage which is putting pressure on existing services and providers – we need boots on the ground.”
An Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI showed the largest share of contract awards in July 2019 was held by the residential sector at 39.9%.
Mr Tolputt, whose firm works across the South West, said he region’s second-homes market was helping to push growth in residential construction, as was flight from the South East and London, and added: “People are looking to relocate to places like Bristol and Exeter. Exeter is having an incredible boom at the moment.
“And Plymouth will end up with a population half of all of Cornwall’s, but in a small area. So there is a need for good quality housing.”
But he said recruitment was a problem and said: “There is a stigma, but it is nonsense. There are careers for boys and girls and from all backgrounds.”
In the South West alone there is already huge demand for process managers, professional and technical staff and wood trades and interior fit-out specialists.
And Emma Hewitt, skills co-ordinator with Building Plymouth, the Plymouth City Council-led partnership which works to fill job vacancies in construction, said there are 180 job roles that need filling in the industry, from architects to quantity surveyors, engineers to bricklayers, carpenters to labourers, demolition to landscaping. And many of them are white collar.
“We even need people in HR, admin and accounts,” she said.
The Building Plymouth partnership continues to be busy with its drive to attract new entrants and apprentices into a sector which is showing no signs of decline.
The CITB envisages lots of building sites being opened up about the region and UK, with a 3.2% growth in public housing, outstripping infrastructure development, though this is expected to expand by 1.9%.
John Lee, from South West Highway Group, also a construction industry ambassador, said: “There is a skills gap and an ageing workforce. The problem is getting young people into the industry, getting rid of that stigma. It’s a national problem.”
