The South West will need 1,250 bricklayers in the next 5 years
The Construction sector is worth £867million every year to the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and it employs 25,000 people
The local plan sets a target of 704,000m2 of workspace to be delivered by 2030. This will include 360,000m2 of office space and 344,000m2 of industrial workspace.
Every £1 invested in construction activity generates £2 of spending power, increasing to over £3 investing in housing construction specifically. The compares favourably with other traditionally high sectors.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) carried out a survey that identified that the construction workforce is aging whilst simultaneously the number of young people entering the profession is in decline.
Many construction workers are retiring, and the rate of retirement looks set to increase as 22% of the workforce are over 50, and 15% are in their 60s. The industry is also losing out to competing sectors where work is more stable and pay is more competitive. With an ageing workforce and a poor pipeline of young people, the construction industry looks certain to face a skills crisis in the next decade.
So, what are you doing to secure the future of your business? Where is the next generation of your workforce coming from? Are you employing apprentices, offering work experience to pupils or work placements to construction students studying vocational courses? If not, why not get in touch with Inga Geach to discuss how to attract the next generation?
