The vast majority of UK adults would not consider a career in construction, according to a survey.
The survey, carried out for Deconstruction, a campaign aimed at improving perceptions of the construction industry, by YouGov found that 69 per cent of UK adults would not consider working in the sector.
It revealed that 77% of full-time students aged 18-24 wouldn’t either.
Most adults (52%) also said they perceive the industry as dirty, while 70% find it strenuous and a quarter believe it is unsafe.
The survey asked more than 2,000 members of the public for their views on the industry.
A statement from Deconstruction cited a recent estimate by the Construction Industry Training Board of the number of workers needed to be recruited by 2027, with a total of 225,000 – to meet UK construction demand. Meanwhile, the average age of the workforce is aging.
Deconstruction founder Ryan Jones, who is also managing director of construction marketing firm SLG Agency, said the survey findings were alarming given the sector is “at the heart of some of the challenges biggest that the country faces”, ranging from the supply of “good” housing and adapted buildings, to face the climate challenge with net zero commitments”.
He added: “If we want to encourage new young people to enter the sector, we need to move beyond the image of high visibility and helmets that is the prevailing perception of the sector.
“Within the sector, we all know that there is much more to construction, with digital innovation, new technologies and many examples of high-quality engineering and building design that improve the environment in which we live. But we have to tell this story to a new generation, and we have to do it now.”
Other surveys have previously warned that perception issues could affect recruitment, including Research 2021 by Morgan Sindall, Gleeds and HBD which found that construction was seen as a male-dominated, cold, dirty and dangerous industry in which to work.
A fifth of young respondents to this survey also cited the industry’s low pay as holding them back, although most construction salaries were above the national average.
In December 2021, Amanda Fisher, then Amey’s chief executive, he called for the industry to fend for itself “more attractive, more flexible, more adaptable” to boost recruitment.
Deconstruction is a non-profit campaign to tackle skills shortages by improving the image of construction.
