Skills gaps have long been one of the construction industry’s biggest challenges, with many businesses still frequently citing a lack of qualified talent as an ongoing hurdle.
While attracting a new generation of workers to the industry is obviously vital to filling gaps in the workforce, upskilling those already working within the sector is equally as important when it comes to meeting demand for talent.
In its new Global Construction Skills report, the NOCN has emphasised how important upskilling will be going forward for both the construction industry and in unlocking the UK’s economic growth.
What does the NOCN report say?
In the summer of 2024, the incoming Labour government announced ambitious plans to build more than 1.5 million homes in the next five years. In its report, the NOCN says this will require an extra 150,000 workers on top of the already significant 250,000 candidates the CITB had previously predicted would be needed by 2030, prior to Labour’s announcement.
Should Labour’s plans materialise, this would leave the industry’s total shortfall at 430,000 workers, requiring a 15% increase in the sector’s current workforce.
In response to its findings, the NOCN has made several suggestions to both the government and the construction industry.
Upskilling is central to this advice, with the NOCN recommending the development of occupational standards and upskilling, and highlighting the need to improve competence levels, particularly for a significant portion of the workforce that has not yet reached Level 2.
Graham Hasting Evans, chief executive of NOCN Group, comments on the report: “When we look at what has been happening over the last 10 years, and particularly the last five years since the English Apprenticeship Levy came in, there has been a decline in number of trades and operative workers coming into the construction industry.
“There is also the historical problem of the high number of people who have no or only a Level 1 qualification and hence cannot demonstrate competency at Level 2 (which is required to obtain a ‘Blue Card’ to work on-site).”
How private construction training providers can unlock this growth
Private training providers can play an integral role in this need for upskilling, as they offer a more accessible and efficient method of training in comparison to apprenticeships and college courses.
Whether it's experienced tradespeople who need to obtain formal qualifications, plumbers looking to add gas qualifications or workers wanting to jump from a level 2 to a level 3 qualification in order to take on more responsibilities, private providers can be key in unlocking this development.
While the predicted increased construction output is obviously exciting and welcome news, there is an element of understandable apprehensiveness given the long-standing struggles in regards to hiring.
However, with a genuine upskilling strategy in place, one which can be aided by the growing popularity and accessibility of accredited private training providers, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about what the future has in store for the sector.