Almost 225,000 extra workers will be needed to meet demand for construction in the UK between now and 2027.
This is according to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Some 2.67 million people will need to be employed in the sector by 2027 if this demand is to be met.
Major sectors in demand are private housing, infrastructure, and repair and maintenance.
Construction output is expected to grow for all nations and regions, despite factors such as rising materials and labour costs. A UK recession is expected this year with a slow return to growth in 2024.
CITB chief executive Tim Balcon said: “We know the next 18 months won’t be easy. However, I remain inspired by the construction industry’s resilience shown in the pandemic and throughout 2022.”
He added recruitment, training, development and upskilling were “vital” to ensure the industry can contribute to economic growth.
The CITB has a number of initiatives to support growth including: specialist grant funding and support for SMEs; investment of almost £50m of Levy to support over 22,000 apprentices; and grants to help support over 16,000 learners to complete qualifications.
