As thousands of school leavers consider their career choices following results day, new research reveals the strongest UK cities offering some of the best conditions for a construction career
The Construction Hotspots Index from Travis Perkins analysed construction career demand, apprenticeship participation, housing delivery and construction output across 20 major UK cities.
The index highlights the areas currently combining strong hiring activity with a healthy pipeline of future construction work, helping reveal where the industry’s strongest growth opportunities are emerging.
There are significant gaps in construction output across cities
Coventry ranks first overall, combining the UK’s highest rate of construction career vacancies with strong levels of building activity.
Southampton places second and records the highest construction apprenticeship participation rate of any city analysed.
The findings also reveal a significant gap between cities. Despite being the country’s largest construction market, London records the lowest rate of construction apprenticeship participation, while several mid-sized cities outperform London, Birmingham and Manchester once population size is considered.
Overall, the data shows:
- Coventry ranks first overall, recording the highest construction job vacancy rate in the UK
- Southampton ranks second and records the highest construction apprenticeship participation rate
- Sheffield records the highest housing completion rate of any city analysed
- Brighton has the highest construction output relative to population size
- London records the lowest construction apprenticeship participation rate despite being the country’s largest construction market
- Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow all rank outside the top 15 once population size is considered
Mid-sized cities could be the best locations for a construction career
The findings suggest that while Britain’s largest cities continue to account for a significant share of construction activity, some of the strongest performing locations are mid-sized cities where job demand, skills development, and building activity are growing together.
Paul Beaman, group commercial director for merchanting at Travis Perkins, explained: “The construction industry relies on a strong mix of skilled workers, ongoing development and a healthy pipeline of future projects to support long-term growth.
“What this research highlights is that some of the strongest opportunities are emerging in cities where hiring demand, skills development and construction activity are growing together.”
He concluded: “That’s particularly important as the industry looks to attract the next generation of workers while continuing to deliver the homes and infrastructure the UK needs.”
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