Attracting talent isn’t the problem… keeping it is

By Tanguy Guerer 2026-07-14T06:00:00

Getting more young people through the door is only half the battle. The bigger challenge for construction is creating the support and sense of purpose that persuades them to build a long-term career, says Tanguy Guerer

The construction industry has spent years talking about how to attract new talent. It now needs to fix why they leave.

There are encouraging signs that more young people are entering the industry. Data from the Construction Skills Certification Schemeshows that more than a quarter of cardholders are now under 30, up 8% over the past five years. A recent CITB report, however, highlights the flipside: too many people are leaving the industry too soon. Just under half of apprentices do not complete their final assessment, while a significant share of new entrants leave within their first 12 months.

Already registered? Login here

To continue enjoying Building.co.uk, sign up for free guest access

Existing subscriber? LOGIN

Stay at the forefront of thought leadership with news and analysis from award-winning journalists. Enjoy company features, CEO interviews, architectural reviews, technical project know-how and the latest innovations.

Limited access to building.co.uk
Breaking industry news as it happens
Breaking, daily and weekly e-newsletters

Get your free guest access SIGN UP TODAY

Subscribe now for unlimited access

Subscribe to Building today and you will benefit from:

Unlimited access to all stories including expert analysis and comment from industry leaders
Our league tables, cost models and economics data
Our online archive of over 10,000 articles
Building magazine digital editions
Building magazine print editions
Printed/digital supplements

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

View our subscription options and join our community