New government statistics published last week show a steep decline in construction apprenticeship starts and completions – and completely rewrite the statistics published this time last year.
The statistics from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills show that there were just 13,700 apprenticeship starts in Construction, Planning and the Built Environment, a small decrease on the 13,900 recorded starts in 2011/12.
These figures represent a dramatic 33% decrease from the levels recorded in 2010/11 (22,400) and 2009/10 (20,600).
A year ago, however, BIS statistics indicated there had been a 14.6% decrease to 24,000 apprenticeship starts in 2011/12 compared to 2010/11. But both the percentage drop and 24,000 figure appear to have been a miscalculation, and have now been edited out of the official record.
At the time, BIS also published an infographic on apprenticeship starts in construction and other parts of the economy, which is still available to view here.
The figures were widely reported in the construction press at the time, but not in Construction Manager.
Meanwhile, there is no confusion on the number of construction apprenticeship “achievements” or completions, which show a steady decline. There were 7,280 achievements in academic year 2012/13, compared to 8,630 in 2011/12 – a 15.6% drop. In comparison, there were 14,250 completions in 2008/9, and 11,790 in 2009/10.
A summary of the new, updated figures are available in a parliamentary briefing note on apprenticeship statistics published on 10 February.
It also shows that construction, planning and the built environment and leisure, travel and tourism were the only sectors to record a drop in the number of appremticeship starts since 2009/10.
Comparing 2012/13 to 2009/10, there was a 64% increase in starts in the retail and commercial enterprise sector (to 101,000) and a 56% increase in the engineering and manufacturing technologies sector (to 66,000).
Next week, (26 Feb), an all-party committee of MPs and peers is due to publish a report entitled Jobs for Young People in the Construction Industry. The report is based on an inquiry chaired by Labour MP Nick Raynsford and Lord (Richard) Best, who have been supported by both the CIOB and CITB in the gathering of evidence.
With almost one million 16-24-year-olds not in education, employment or training, the report recommends how the industry can create more opportunities for young people, to meet the anticipated need for new recruits to replace an ageing workforce and meet rising demand.
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It is critical that this industry must be so structured that apprenticeships must be made mandatory. Whatever the cause, the attraction of getting an apprentice to obtain a thorough training and qualifications is a responsibility of Government and employer.