Lack of construction careers advice threatens housing targets, CIOB warns

Government plans to accelerate housebuilding and development of key national infrastructure could fall flat if more isn’t done to entice young people into the construction sector, says a new report released this National Careers Week (W/C 3 March).

A recent survey* by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) found two thirds (68%) of young people aged between 16 and 24 hold a positive view of construction careers and around a third (31%) would consider working in the construction sector, however almost half (47%) said information about it was not included in the careers advice they received whilst in education. More than a quarter (28%) don't believe careers in construction are accessible to young people.

A similar survey** of parents of 16-24-year-olds showed more than three quarters (79%) would be supportive of their child working in construction with only six per cent saying they’d be unsupportive. More than 40 per cent (43%) of parents surveyed said they’d prefer their child to “earn while they learn” instead of going to university, reflecting concerns over the well documented rising costs of university education and lack of graduate opportunities.

CIOB says the Government’s recently announced reforms to some apprenticeships is broadly welcome but if construction roles such as site managers, skilled trades, designers, architects and surveyors are excluded from careers advice provided in schools, young people will not take up construction apprenticeships and the skills gap, which is holding back the upturn in construction output the Government is demanding, will continue to be a problem.

More than half of the young people (53%) said they’d be interested in studying a built environment GCSE while almost two thirds (64%) of parents said they’d encourage their children to take this subject were it to be available.
When asked to choose words to describe construction roles, “highly skilled” and “professional” were among the top four selected by the 2,000 young people with “working on building sites” and “careers for men” being the other two most preferred options.

However, CIOB’s survey data shows an encouraging trend in young people’s perceptions of the industry including more than one in 10 associating the sector with modern tech-focused roles and describing the sector as diverse.

In 2024, it was estimated an extra 251,500 people are needed in the industry to meet anticipated construction output by 2028, which equates to around 50,300 a year***. However, this number is now expected to be far higher considering the Government’s plans to build 1.5 million homes, including several “new towns”, during this parliament and its recently announced 10-year Infrastructure Strategy comprising construction projects such as new roads, rail and reservoirs across the UK.

*The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 2001 young people aged 16-24. The data was collected between 04.02.2025 - 07.02.2025.

** The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 2000 UK Parents, aged 31+, with children aged 16-24 years old. The data was collected between 04.02.2025-10.02.2025. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.

*** Data from the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) Industry Outlook 2024-2028 forecasts