Need stems from increased demand and hundreds of thousands leaving the sector across period

More than one million construction workers are needed to match increased demand and people leaving between 2025 and 2035, according to Skills England.

The quango’s latest assessment of need in the sector estimated that employment demand for 30 priority construction occupations would grow by 493,000 (26%) between 2025 and 2035, the largest projected increase in workers across all priority sectors.

This increase in demand, partly to support government building targets, is in addition to an estimated 595,000 workers expected to leave these occupations over the period.

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Source: Shutterstock

Nearly 500,000 workers are needed for 30 priority occupations, Skills England said

The assessment did not include job projections for the repairs, maintenance and improvement sub-sector to support energy efficiency and clean heating policies.

The occupation with the biggest projected demand is ‘construction and building trades not elsewhere classified’, with 53,300 additional workers needed over the period.

“Job holders in this occupation undertake a variety of tasks in the construction, alteration, maintenance and repair of buildings, steeples, industrial chimneys and other tall structures, and of underwater structures not elsewhere classified,” it said.

This was followed by carpenters and joiners, and production managers and directors.

According to the body, more than half (59%) of all projected roles will require level 2 or 3 qualifications, while 63% will face demand from other priority sectors, particularly engineering

Skills England found that construction’s age profile broadly mirrored that of the UK workforce, with 35-44 year-olds the dominant age bracket, accounting for 22.6% of construction workers, compared with 22.2% across the economy.

However, construction remains highly male-dominated with 85% of workers being men, compared with 52% across the general workforce.

Skills England said construction jobs required relatively high proficiency in problem solving, decision making and numeracy, and that found that several foundational, basic skills, such as welding and electrical skills, could be used in different settings and sectors.

Employment growth in the sector has been strongest in the York and North Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan area (31%).