Construction Labour Shortages – What trades are in demand?
If you’re contemplating a career in construction, this article will provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision about your future career path. The construction industry is currently experiencing a surge in demand for specific trades due to construction labour shortages, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a rewarding profession. Reasons...
If you’re contemplating a career in construction, this article will provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision about your future career path. The construction industry is currently experiencing a surge in demand for specific trades due to construction labour shortages, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a rewarding profession.
Reasons for the Labour Shortages
For several years, the construction sector has grappled with a shortage of skilled workers needed to meet the industry’s demands. Various factors have contributed to the construction labour shortage, including:
- Pandemic-Related Work Shifts: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many construction workers sought alternative employment and have been hesitant to return to their former roles, creating a void in the workforce.
- Impact of Brexit: The aftermath of Brexit has resulted in the loss of European workers who previously played a crucial role in the UK construction industry.
- Lack of Promotion in Schools: Schools have not adequately promoted construction trades, leading to a decline in the number of young entrants to the industry.
- Retirement of Skilled Workers: Many experienced construction workers with core skills are reaching retirement age, further exacerbating the labour shortage issue.
Despite ongoing efforts to address these construction labour shortages, challenges persist across the construction industry.
UK Shortage Occupation List
The UK government has taken steps to mitigate this workforce shortage by publishing the UK Shortage Occupations List. You can view the list here: Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This list identifies occupations that are in high demand and for which there are insufficient resident workers in the UK to meet that demand. As a result, the government encourages foreign nationals to apply for skilled worker visas in these specific areas.
Currently, the UK Shortage Occupations List includes several high-demand construction trades:
- Civil engineers
- Engineers (in general)
- Welders
- Bricklayers and masons
- Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
- Carpenters and joiners
- Plasterers
The list is expected to expand further to include additional trades currently under consideration to ease the construction labour shortages, such as:
- Steel erectors
- Scaffolders, stagers and riggers
- Road construction operatives
- Ceiling fixers
- Mobile machine drivers and operatives
While the UK government’s skilled worker scheme aims to address labour shortages in the construction sector, it’s essential to be aware that this scheme may not yield immediate results due to sponsorship requirements, associated fees, and the time required for visa applications to be approved, therefore the construction labour shortages will continue for some time to come.
In conclusion
In summary, the construction labour shortage, has led to a vacancy rate higher than the all-industry average. However, individuals interested in pursuing careers in the trades included in the UK Shortage Occupations List are likely to find themselves in high demand and may even command better pay rates than those working in comparable construction occupations that do not appear on the list.
With market conditions stabilising and an increase in contract awards and planning approvals, coupled with the imperative to address retrofitting and climate change challenges, now is an opportune time to consider a career in the construction industry. The demand for skilled workers in construction trades remains strong due to the construction labour shortages, making it a promising field for aspiring professionals.
If you want to read more about construction industry trends, why not read this article: Construction Industry Trends October – 2023 – Net Temps Blog (net-temps.co.uk)
