Whilst there are vacancies in the construction sector, the skills gap is something that cannot be ignored.

Construction demand is present and as a recruitment consultancy, we can see the flow of people who have a role to play. It is clear to see that the number of young adults progressing is not enough to replace those people who are coming to the end of their careers.

The number of employees above 60 is increasing more than any other age group, according to the CIOB, the impact of the ageing population report.

Jack Bond, Director, shares the reality of the industry demographic, “We have fantastic engineers, on the Bond Recruit books. These are skilled engineers and some are still working into their late 70s. These are dedicated professionals who have been an asset to the industry during their career, but that isn’t necessarily being replicated by young engineers who are coming through.”

According to a June 2022 report from Construction Skills Network (CSN), by 2025, the construction industry will need to recruit a further 217,000 new workers. This is just to meet demand.

Russell Drinkwater, Director, shares the importance to nurture young people coming through, “My career started as an apprentice carpenter. It was a two-year apprenticeship and then I was on-site as a fully qualified carpenter. There were lots of other apprentices with me, but the number of people who stayed within the industry became fewer as each year progressed. What we see today are other career options and people believing they can make money in an even quicker way but isn’t always the case.”

“There has to be a focus on nurturing longer-term apprenticeships and supporting those people coming through. Even a focus on the underused talents of people in many companies. No one wants to be part of an industry where project delays become commonplace. There has to be an emphasis on the future coming through that will lead to more people choosing careers in construction.”

Development opportunities can be more pronounced. Jack says, “A lot of main contractors do invest in NVQs and the right training, but it has to be fed down to smaller contractors. For instance, the UK has recently introduced a qualification on the Future Of Construction that allows a person to ‘futureproof’ themselves and to help the industry provide an individual with a life of careers within construction.”

Wherever you look, there is no straightforward answer. Russell looks to the future, “As a recruiter,  we are the source for many businesses, so it is something that is on our minds. It requires a committed approach from the industry to attract talented and enthusiastic people and showcase the very real opportunity of a successful career. It requires a diverse workforce, but also people who want to contribute to the sector.”

The good news is that the construction industry can be in a strong place to find momentum. With a range of specialised roles for skilled people and the roles that we see available, as a construction recruitment consultancy, there is an opportunity to drive the construction industry to a committed future.