Multi-million pound recruitment drive to plug the construction workforce gap

Plumbers, electricians, carpenters. The construction industry needs more of them – and fast. According to one report, there are already around 140,000 unfilled vacancies. By 2029, it’s estimated the sector will need an additional 47,860 workers each year to meet demand.

The UK government and industry groups have already taken steps to plug this gap with the launch of the Construction Skills Mission Board. The initiative is underpinned by a commitment to recruit 100,000 more construction workers per year by the end of the current Parliament.

“The Construction Skills Mission Board will make sure we hear directly from employers about what their skills needs are,” said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Laying the foundations for success

A number of schemes have been announced to bolster the recruitment drive. Thanks to an agreement between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Jobcentres will work more closely with the construction industry to offer work experience and tailored placements to meet the need of employers and people looking to start a fulfilling career.

More than 40,000 industry placements will be jointly funded by the government and CITB as part of a £132 million investment. “By working together, we can widen the talent pool, bring in more diverse voices, and encourage more people to consider a career in construction,” said Tim Balcon, CEO of the CITB.

Delivering better apprenticeship outcomes

State-of-the-art Technical Excellence Colleges and construction foundation apprenticeships are also being introduced to attract new recruits. The apprenticeships will provide young people at the start of their career with a route into construction enabling them to develop skills in a range of specialist occupations, such as brick laying and carpentry.

The report estimated 240,000 new apprenticeships would be needed over the next decade to meet workforce demands, with a 34% increase in apprenticeship completion rates. The completion rate for construction apprenticeships fell to 41% in 2024/2025, down from 65% the previous year.

Supporting growth goals  

The investment in construction careers and skills comes at a critical time for the industry and the government, which has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes as part of its Plan for Change.

It’s hoped the initiatives will not only attract new recruits but also enable established workers to gain new skills and secure better paid jobs. This will help to support crucial  infrastructure projects and preserve the UK’s highly-skilled construction workforce for generations to come.

Mark Reynolds, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council and Co-Chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board, said: “Construction will be essential to delivering growth and investment across the UK; and so it is vital that we now step up as a sector.”