A new report by the DART Tool Group has shown that the lack of workers across the country is putting the 1.5m new homes target at great risk
The Construction Regions Risk Report highlights the construction labour crisis as threatening the government’s promise, with the North of England alone seeing a 2.2% annual labour shortfall.
The report further shows that to hit targets, 47,860 extra workers will be needed per year.
The value of the pipeline has continually risen
Including the 1.5m new homes target, the national pipeline is valued at £63.34bn, with a value rising by 12.4% year-on-year.
The North of England is currently the highest-risk region in terms of labour-driven delays, with new order value growing 33.2% year-on-year, but the annual recruitment requirement in the region is at 2.15%, meaning the North alone will need 12,040 more workers than the typical recruitment amount.
The graph below shows what regions are at most risk and require the most labour.
Ryan Paterson, managing director at DART Tool Group, said: “The findings from our ‘Construction Regions Risk Report’ demonstrate that a regional approach is needed when addressing the labour crisis in construction. The core issue is that as the value of construction projects increases, we’re seeing more people leave the profession than entering.
“The sector is facing some of the toughest shortages in recent years, which are now starting to impact project timelines. Our data shows that a nationwide annual recruitment uplift of 1.8%, on top of typical recruitment levels, is needed to ensure projects meet their projected timelines, rising to 2.15% in the North.
“By aligning regional recruitment needs with project deadlines, we can help avoid the costly delays that stall sites. Addressing the labour shortage requires strategic recruitment, better training frameworks and professional-grade site tools that enable workers to be efficient and productive when on site.”
The report can be found in full here.
Some construction jobs are among the fastest-growing in the country
Last month, job data from LinkedIn showed the 25 fastest growing jobs in the UK for the start of 2026, of which some were in the construction industry.
The fastest of these at number nine on the list was building inspector/building control officers/building control surveyors, professionals that work to ensure buildings meet regulations, codes, and structural standards.
Heating and air conditioning engineers, preconstruction managers, land managers, energy analysts, and property directors also appear on the list, however more traditional jobs such as bricklayers, electricians, or other hands-on roles are absent from the list, suggesting a continuing skills shortage.
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