Nearly half of young people are now considering a career in the construction and trade sectors, as rising youth unemployment and concerns over job security push more 16- to 25-year-olds towards hands-on skilled work.
New research from Checkatrade, the UK home improvements platform, shows that 48% of young people are now considering becoming a builder, plumber or electrician, with job security and earning potential cited as the main attractions.
The findings come against a backdrop of more than one million 16- to 25-year-olds currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), alongside long-term skills shortages in construction and the wider trades sector.
They also align with Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) research, Attitudes Towards Construction Careers, which shows apprenticeships remain a popular and well-regarded entry route into the sector among young people and parents.
CIOB’s survey of more than 2,000 young people and over 2,000 parents found that the majority of respondents view construction careers positively, with apprenticeships widely seen as an attractive ‘earn while you learn’ option. CIOB has also reported strong parental support for vocational pathways, reflecting wider concerns about the cost of university education and the desire for more direct routes into employment.
The Checkatrade research suggests apprenticeships are also gaining ground as a preferred route into work. Nearly four in 10 (39%) young people say an apprenticeship is more appealing than going to university (32%), reflecting a significant shift towards vocational pathways.
Checkatrade notes that this marks a dramatic change over the past decade, when just 3% of young people said apprenticeships were their first choice.
Job security in an age of AI
The survey, based on 3,000 responses from young people, parents, homeowners and tradespeople, also highlights growing anxiety about the impact of artificial intelligence on future careers. Eight in 10 (80%) respondents said AI has made them concerned about the security of traditional office-based roles, while 75% said they want a career where their skills cannot easily be replaced by machines.
Despite the surge in interest, the research also points to persistent structural barriers preventing more young people from entering and staying in the sector.
Eight in 10 (78%) tradespeople surveyed believe school leavers are not adequately prepared for the world of work, while 68% say young people lack the work ethic required for physically demanding roles involving long and irregular hours.
Employers also report limited engagement with apprenticeships. Just 12% of trade businesses said they had taken on an apprentice in the past year, while apprenticeship starts have declined from 522,000 in 2011 to 354,000 in 2025. More than half (58%) of businesses said recent government changes to the apprenticeship system have not influenced their decision to recruit apprentices.
Reforms needed
Checkatrade argues that reforms are needed to convert rising interest into sustained entry into the workforce. Its recommendations include financial support for low-income apprentices to cover early costs such as tools and travel, tax incentives for employers who support apprentices through to completion, and a renewed focus on practical, onsite training over administrative requirements.
Jambu Palaniappan, CEO of Checkatrade, said there is now a clear opportunity to align rising youth interest with employer demand.
“For the first time in generations, young people are choosing the trades over university. These are well-paid, secure and rewarding careers that will never be replaced by AI. Young people have the ambition, but what too many of them lack is the right opportunity,” he said.
“There is a gap between the young people who want in and the businesses ready to train them. With the right support, taking on an apprentice can be straightforward for a plumber or an electrician, and getting this right is how we will build the homes the country needs and give hundreds of thousands of young people a route into work.”
