CIOB NEWS
CIOB POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND JOSEPH KILROY OUTLINES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE LABOUR FORCE DEFICIT IN NI… Harnessing youth enthusiasm for the construction sector
The global construction sector is facing a labour deficit globally, and Northern Ireland is not an exception. In relative terms, NI is doing well: there are fewer construction job vacancies and greater apprenticeship uptake compared to the rest of the UK. However, in absolute terms, Northern Ireland needs to double its workforce growth rate – from 0.8% to 1.6%, around 1,000 new workers per year - in order to meet national housing and infrastructure needs as laid out in the Northern Ireland Programme for Government. Two things are striking given this picture. • According to the Northern Ireland Labour Force survey, almost 20,000 young people, about 10% of the population of 16-24-year-olds in Northern Ireland, were not in education, employment or training (NEET) as of May 2025. • A new survey from the CIOB Northern Ireland found that almost
a career in construction. The high number of young people not in education, employment or training, the enthusiasm of this age group for construction and the labour force deficit should be an ideal equation. Yet the construction sector’s skills deficit stubbornly persists. Why? Labour shortages have emerged as the wicked policy problem de jour. A ‘wicked problem’ in policy refers to a complex issue that is difficult to define, has no definitive solution and is characterised by conflicting values and perspectives. It would therefore be folly to present a single solution here. Nevertheless, the CIOB survey data suggests a number of issues which are in the purview of policy makers to address to make the ‘youth enthusiasm, NEET, labour deficit’ equation work for the construction sector. For instance, the data suggests that well informed careers guidance is crucial. The construction sector offers a wide range of careers suitable for people with different skills and interests, with different routes to entry. Yet, the variety of roles within construction is not captured by
80% of 16-24-year-olds hold a positive view of construction
careers. More than one third (35%) would actively consider pursuing a career in construction, with 77% of parents surveyed saying they would be supportive of their child pursuing
Joseph Kilroy.
“The construction sector offers a wide range of careers suitable for people with different skills and interests, with different routes to entry.”
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