UK construction needs to recruit more than 200,000 additional workers over the next five years as the industry expands, according to new research from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
The Board’s latest Construction Skills Network (CSN) report predicts an increase of over 8000 jobs per year compared to last year’s forecast with the annual demand for workers increasing to 44,690. The industry is expected to grow by 2.9% year on year to 2019.
CITB director of policy and strategic planning Steve Radley said: “Leisure, infrastructure and housing are all driving growth, but this brings with it new challenges in meeting skills demand.”
As a whole, the UK’s private housing sector is expected to continue growing at a rate of 4.6% over the forecast period, with the commercial sector set to grow at the same rate.
The biggest regional growth is expected in Wales, where predicted growth of almost 6% year on year could create as many as 5320 construction jobs in the next five years.
The report also says that a resurgence of growth and employment in the north of England has the potential to create an economic power base in the region.
Civil Engineering Contractors Association chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: “In the last year there has been strong growth in demand that must be matched by rising recruitment. Contractors are already ramping up activity to bring apprentices and graduates into the sector, creating new careers in offices and sites across the country.
“But we must match this by attracting back those who may have left the industry during the downturn.
“We hope that the prospect of a decade of investment to improve our national infrastructure will attract this vital source of knowledge and experience back to the sector.”
