Net zero commitment will require 350,000 new construction jobs

The UK government’s commitment to achieving ‘net zero’ emissions by 2050 will require the equivalent of 350,000 new roles in construction by 2028.

That’s the main finding of a new report published by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) called Building Skills for Net Zero.

The CITB said that a “critical” element of achieving net zero will be reducing carbon emissions from existing buildings. Around 80% of the buildings expected to be in use in 2050 have already been built and these could represent 95% of future built environment emissions, the CITB warned.

In order to reduce emissions to net zero, retrofit work on 27 million domestic and two million non-domestic buildings will be required, it said.

CITB arrived at the figure of 350,000 new roles after modelling the skills profile of the workforce needed to deliver net zero using data from the Climate Change Committee (CCC).

It has estimated that by 2028, additional decarbonisation work will create a requirement for 86,000 construction project managers, 33,000 building envelope specialists and 59,000 plumbers and HVAC specialists.

CITB strategy and policy director Steve Radley said: “Net zero presents a huge challenge for construction but an even greater opportunity to create a more productive industry that’s also a more attractive career option.

“We can get there by being clear on the key skills we’ll need, making sure we have the right courses and qualifications to deliver them and getting on with investing in them. Industry is already delivering what is needed, but it needs to happen at scale. The training sector must act now as employers’ needs will change fast. A joined-up approach to skills across the built environment is key.

“Government also has a key role in specifying what it wants and creating the pipeline of demand that will give industry the confidence to invest in the skills we need and for providers to invest in the courses we need to deliver these skills.”