Despite the construction sector showing positive signs for growth in 2025, a shortage of skilled labour remains a major point of concern amongst industry experts.
A recent study found that a dwindling construction workforce meant there are now just 29 workers per 1,000 people in the UK, the lowest on record. This is due to a combination of factors, including significant gaps left by foreign workers after Brexit and a predominately ageing workforce.
While Labour has suggested it hopes to rely on homegrown talent to fill these gaps and meet its ambitious homebuilding targets, the high number of construction apprenticeships not being completed poses another big hurdle.
Nearly half of construction apprenticeships left before completion
Analysis carried out by the British Association of Construction Heads (BACH) and NOCN Group, an education charity, found that construction apprenticeships have a dropout rate of 47%.
The research highlights several reasons for such a high number of uncompleted apprenticeships, with 39% of respondents saying it was down to the training provider, while 29% said the employer was their reason for leaving.
Another issue flagged in the study is that construction learners were less likely than average to be satisfied with the teaching they received. Reasons for this include a lack of experience or knowledge of the tutor, or, alarmingly, that they rarely saw their tutor
Can private training providers step in and help?
With this in mind, and the fact that the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), estimates that an additional 50,000 workers are needed annually until 2028, it’s clear that the industry must leverage alternative training pathways.
While apprenticeships still form a vital part of the industry, the reality is that they only appeal to a small portion of the population. For those already in full-time employment, or with commitments such as childcare and mortgage/rent payments, an apprenticeship simply isn’t a feasible method of training.
This is where private construction training can help tap into a mass market of potential talent. While this route does come with an up-front cost, a complete newcomer to the industry can go from beginner to fully qualified in a much shorter timeframe than is possible with an apprenticeship.
Labour has vowed to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years using an already over-stretched and in-demand workforce. Given that a typical construction apprenticeship can last anywhere between 2-3 years, it’s easy to see why many feel that the target won’t be achievable in the sector’s current state.
However, that does present a big opportunity for private providers to step up and train the next wave of workers, who, in turn, will likely find their services in high demand in both the immediate and long-term future.