Skills shortages continue to be a major headache for construction bosses, with new data highlighting a record low number of workers.

Despite the government pressing ahead with their lofty plans to build 1.5m new homes during this parliament, experts have expressed concerns that the current workforce simply isn’t large enough to deliver these numbers. 

Elsewhere, as part of Labour’s Plan for Change, the party has announced its new Timber In Construction roadmap. The government says this is a vital step in hitting those ambitious homebuilding targets while simultaneously shifting to more sustainable construction practices and creating new green jobs. 

Skills shortages persist

Analysis carried out for Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips shows that UK population growth is rapidly outpacing the size of its construction workforce. 

Since 2019, the UK has grown by 2.5 million people. In that same period, it has lost 320,000 construction workers, leaving just 29 workers per 1,000 people, the lowest on record.

This follows the most recent report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which predicted that an additional 50,000 workers would be needed annually until 2028 to meet demand.  

And, whilst Labour has said it wants to reduce reliance on legal migration to fill skill gaps, more than one-quarter of the Immigration Salary List (formerly known as the Skilled Occupation List) is made up of construction roles. 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has since confirmed the commission of a Migration Advisory Committee report to assess sectors that are too reliant on overseas talent. This is expected in June.

Which trades are in demand?

By combining data from sources such as CITB, metals4U, and major job boards like Indeed and Totaljobs, recruitment firm Approach Personnel has predicted that the most in-demand trades for 2025 include: 

  • General Builders (41,500 vacancies)
  • Electricians (9,365 vacancies)
  • Plumbers (59,000 vacancies shortfall)
  • Carpenters (4,791 vacancies)
  • Joiners (3,865 vacancies)

Within its findings, the firm also highlighted a growing demand for sustainable roles, such as HVAC Specialists and Renewable Energy Technicians, while the CITB anticipates major opportunities in private housing, infrastructure and repair and maintenance.

Turning to timber

The government has shared further details on how it hopes to approach its ambitious homebuilding and sustainability targets, with domestic timber set to play a much more significant role in the construction industry. 

Plans to increase the use of timber were laid out by Environment Minister Mary Creagh at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London.  

Creagh confirmed Labour would commit to the Timber in Construction roadmap. This includes several key actions, including: 

  • Encouraging the use of sustainable, low-carbon building materials.
  • Meeting the government’s target of delivering 1.5m new homes this parliament by using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
  • Creating a circular economy by championing timber’s potential for a clean growth future and supporting construction in using the most sustainable materials and practices. 
  • Accelerating economic growth by creating new and diverse green jobs

While there is an increasingly urgent need to attract a new wave of talent, there are clear opportunities for individuals who already possess these in-demand construction skills, or for those who might be planning on beginning their training.  

This is true for both traditional construction roles, which remain consistently sought after, and the emerging green roles that are becoming more prevalent as the government expands its focus on sustainability.