New report shows ‘urgent’ need for UK construction apprentices as sector vacancies hit record highs

Richard Harpin, chairman of Checkatrade.com, said: “The figures revealed in our UK Trade Skills Index 2023 report should come as a wakeup call to everyone involved in the trade and construction industry.

“Although we expect the economy to continue to be squeezed in 2023, the construction sector is finding itself in an increasingly alarming situation caused by Brexit, an ageing workforce and the cost-of-living crisis. Combined, this is creating a perfect storm in the industry, and causing a widening skills gap, which we must address.

“Let us be in no doubt: the sector faces urgent and concerning challenges now and over the next decade. It’s incumbent on both businesses and Government to come together and act before it’s too late.”

The results follow apprenticeship completions dropping 11 per cent a year since 2017.

The report states that this will mean an average 24,400 apprenticeships need to be completed per year until 2032 to prevent the current skills shortages getting worse, an increase of around 34 per cent above the average level of the past five years.

Results suggest that the UK needs almost one million new recruits in trade and construction over the next decade, with a skills gap exacerbated by an ageing workforce, an exodus of EU workers post-Brexit, and the cost-of-living crisis.

The report also notes that vacancies in the trades are now at record highs, with widespread shortages particularly prevalent among plumbers, bricklayers, carpenters and electricians.

The UK has seen a sharp rise in skills shortages across construction – from 29 per cent at the start of 2021 to 55 per cent at the end of the year 2021 – and these shortages persisted through 2022.

This has led to a surge in vacancies as construction employers struggle to find staff. In the three months to October 2022, vacancies per 100 jobs reached 3.4, a record high.

To combat the issue, Mr Harpin and Checkatrade.com are launching a series of new projects focused on school leavers and young people aged under 25. This spring, they are set to launch “Get In”, a new campaign aimed at getting thousands more young people aged 16 to 25 into trades careers through apprenticeships.

The new campaign will be piloted in London and the South-East this year.

Melanie Waters, former CEO of Help For Heroes who has been appointed to oversee the new campaigns, said: “This is an urgent problem, but there is a solution. We must do everything we can now to encourage younger generations to consider a career in the trades. It’s important we recognise apprenticeships are going to be crucial to the future of the industry."