A new research paper from DART Tool Group reveals that for every apprenticeship position, there are nearly 100 unfilled jobs
The apprenticeship gap is wider than ever as the paper shows 9,700 unfilled positions in the housebuilding sector alone, with nowhere near enough apprenticeships available to fill the gap.
Disappointment can also be found in the completion rates of apprenticeships, with some sectors seeing less than 20%.
Some sectors are suffering more than others
With a completion rate of just 19% in the year 2024/25, the surveying, design and management sector is by far the worst, shortly followed by plumbing and heating with a not-much-better 21%.
The construction industry as a whole requires more skilled workers than ever, as the first quarter of 2025 saw a 16% increase in vacancies year-on-year.
Ryan Paterson, managing director at DART Tool Group, commented: “The findings from our ‘Apprenticeship Gap Report’ have demonstrated that trades apprenticeships are facing a leaky pipeline. While the Government’s commitment to increasing the number of apprentices in the upcoming years is a step in the right direction, we also need to address the retention crisis and focus on the support and nurturing of our apprentices.
“The construction sector is facing a sharp decline in the number of young people completing apprenticeships, with 59% of construction apprentices dropping out of their course before completion. To bridge the gap between recruitment and qualification, there needs to be high-quality mentorship that equips learners with skills and confidence.
“Continuing to invest in supportive environments, smarter workforce planning, better training frameworks, and professional-grade site tools, apprentices should have the tools to be able to thrive and complete their apprenticeship, helping to address the growing workforce shortage and gradually fill the positions needed to meet the ambitious housebuilding targets.”
Questions are also being raised about apprenticeship quality
Last October, the Scottish construction trade association SELECT expressed concern about what they call “six-week wonders”, as well as alarm that there are some electrical skill courses that are even shorter than that.
Alan Wilson, managing director of SELECT, said: “Despite repeated warnings, we continue to see short courses being offered, including a recent example that promised to equip candidates with electrical installation skills in a month with no prior experience needed.
“It is a matter of considerable concern that some of these so-called training providers appear to be suggesting that it’s possible to learn in a few weeks some of the complex technical skills that qualified electricians take years to acquire.
“Inadequately trained people pose a significant risk to both consumers and the electrical sector itself. There is no substitute for a proper apprenticeship, followed by extensive on-the-job experience.”
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