More than half of 16- to 20-year-olds say construction was never mentioned in careers advice at school or college, while 41% are unaware of the technology used by the industry, according to research by construction software company Procore.
The survey of 1,000 young people in the UK found that just 35% recalled construction or a trade being presented as a career option during school or college careers guidance. A further 17% said they received no careers advice at all.
More than four in 10 (44%) said they would not know where to start if they wanted a career in construction, while almost half (49%) believe schools do not provide enough information about vocational and technical career options.
The findings come as the government introduces new technical pathways for 14- to 16-year-olds, combining vocational and academic learning. There are indications that its efforts to raise the status of technical careers are resonating with young people: when presented with prime minister Andy Burnham’s statement that Britain should “value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”, 48% said it made them view construction and trade careers more positively.
The research also highlighted a gap in awareness of the technology used across the industry. Some 41% of respondents did not know that construction uses robotics, artificial intelligence, drones and virtual reality. However, 51% said working with AI or digital tools would make a career in construction more appealing.
Recruitment challenges
The findings come against a backdrop of significant recruitment challenges. CITB forecasts that the industry will need around 206,000 additional workers by 2030 to meet demand.
Lee Miles, general manager, EMEA, at Procore, said: “Young people can’t choose a career they’ve never heard of. Most of today’s school and college leavers were never told that construction could be an option for them, and that information gap keeps an outdated view of the industry alive.
“Modern sites run on drones, robotics and AI, and our research shows that young people would find construction a far more appealing career if they knew more about the technology involved.
“The government’s new technical pathways are a huge opportunity to change that for the next generation, but real progress needs a joined-up effort from educators, policymakers, industry bodies and employers.
“The industry can’t afford to wait for those long-term changes to deliver results, though. Employers need to reach today’s 16- to 20-year-olds directly, through work experience, visible role models and showing them the technology they would actually use on the job.”
