The UK construction sector is struggling with a workforce skills shortage, leading to errors, delays, obstacles, and excessive hiring costs
According to a new report, ‘Counting the Cost: The UK’s Employability Skills Crisis’ by City & Guilds, 83% of employers have been negatively impacted by the shortage of ‘employability’ skills like self & time management, face-to-face communication and valuing customers.
The report investigated the financial impact of this shortage on UK employers, calculating recruitment volumes, typical hiring costs, and agency fees in 2023.
A lack of construction skills is leading to high employee turnover
The data shows that 37% of construction employers linked a lack of employability skills to high staff turnover.
Moreover, the net costs of employability skills shortages in the sector could run even higher, as employers must pay salaries for staff who leave without meeting expectations and use internal resources to onboard and train staff who do not stay with the business.
Andy Moss, interim chief executive officer of City & Guilds, explained: “Employers are telling us loud and clear that employability skills matter just as much as technical know-how, if not more. Yet we’re now seeing a growing human skills shortage.
“Our findings confirm that apprenticeships and vocational training are highly effective routes to developing the employability skills businesses need, together with the practical experience that’s critical for success in today’s workplace.”
Construction skills training needs to go back to basics
Writing last month for PBC Today, Dr Victoria Hills, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Building, emphasised the need to reform the system, get the training back to basics, and not let mergers and subsequent restructures delay much-needed change.
She said: “Speaking from personal experience of having worked for all three mayors of London, one thing they all had in common was a clear understanding of local employment, training and education and skills requirements. Devolving skills funding to democratically elected leaders who understand their local communities could improve accountability and strengthen decision-making.
“We believe there is merit in reinstating the letters or introducing an equivalent mechanism to ensure greater accountability, clearer strategic direction and stronger alignment with national skills priorities.”
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