The UK construction industry is facing a critical workforce shortage, threatening the government’s ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029. Industry leaders, including the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and housebuilder Barratt Redrow, have warned that tens of thousands of skilled workers are needed to meet this goal.
Key roles like bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, and groundworks are experiencing severe shortages, compounded by an ageing workforce, Brexit, and the lack of skilled apprenticeships. The HBF stated that while the industry has the capacity to maintain current construction levels, achieving the government’s target of building 300,000 homes annually will require a dramatic increase in recruitment and training.
Workforce Challenges in Construction
According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the sector currently employs 2.67 million workers. However, for every 10,000 homes built, approximately 30,000 skilled recruits across 12 trades are required. Based on government housing plans, the HBF estimates the industry will need:
- 20,000 bricklayers
- 8,000 carpenters
- 3,200 plasterers
- 2,400 electricians
- 2,400 plumbers
- 20,000 groundworkers
- 480 engineers
David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Redrow, acknowledged that the current workforce is insufficient, calling the government’s housing target a “national crisis.” He urged policymakers to “revolutionize the market, planning systems, and methods of production” to address these challenges.
Impact of Brexit and Ageing Workforce
Brexit has had a significant impact on recruitment, with the end of freedom of movement restricting the pool of skilled European workers. Historically, the construction industry relied heavily on workers from Eastern Europe, with Romania, India, and Poland being common countries of origin. In London, over 50% of the construction workforce consists of EU/EEA nationals.
Compounding the issue is an ageing workforce, with a quarter of workers aged over 50. This trend highlights a long-term recruitment gap, driven by a lack of apprenticeships, insufficient training programs, and poor perceptions of trades in schools.
The Cost of Inaction
The construction skills shortage isn’t just a recruitment challenge—it directly threatens housing affordability. Labour’s housing target aims to reduce house prices and make homes more accessible, particularly for younger people. Falling short of the target could worsen the UK’s housing crisis.
The independent think tank Centre for Cities estimates that the housebuilding industry will fall 388,000 homes short of the government’s 1.5 million target. Local councils, tasked with implementing housing plans, have also criticized the targets as “unrealistic” and “impossible to achieve.”
Initiatives to Bridge the Gap
To address the crisis, the government announced a £140 million investment to create 5,000 additional construction apprenticeship places annually.
“Homebuilding skills hubs” are also being established to accelerate training and recruitment.
Despite these measures, the industry’s leaders, including the HBF, have called for a more “pro-development policy approach” to enable investment in both talent pipelines and land acquisition. Barratt Redrow plans to build between 16,600 and 17,200 homes in the next financial year, almost 4,000 more than previously projected.
While these efforts are welcomed, industry leaders agree that transformational changes are needed to overcome workforce shortages and meet housing demands.
