Relative to all apprentices, construction apprentices are disproportionately under 19
Apprenticeship starts in construction in England, by age group (thousands)
Construction apprentices are younger than other sectors
Under 19-year-olds make up the greatest share of construction apprentices. In 2022/23, 50.5% of construction apprentices were under 19, compared to 23.0% in all sectors. In 2022/23, the share of older construction apprentices, those 35 and over, was 5.3%. This compares to 23.8% in all sectors or subjects. The fact that the apprenticeship population in construction is younger than all apprenticeships is a reassuring trend, given the reduction in younger workers in the industry since before the pandemic. (See page 14.)
<19 19-24 25-34 35+
15
10
5
0
North West has the most construction apprenticeships
2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
There is a mismatch in the number of construction apprentices in different regions of England compared to regional construction output. In 2023/24, London had the smallest number of construction apprentices, at 1,780, which represented 8.0% of all construction apprenticeship starts. This is despite having the highest construction output in 2023 at £45.6 billion, or 23.5% of England’s construction output. On the other hand, the North West of England had the highest number of construction starts in 2023/2024 at 3,680, or 16.5% of all construction apprenticeship starts.
Apprenticeship starts in construction in England, by region, in 2023/24 (thousands, LHS) and construction output (£ billions, RHS), by region, 2023
Apprenticeship starts (LHS)
Construction output (RHS)
4
50
40
3
30
2
20
1
10
0
0
Ldn.
W. Midls.
N. East E.
East S. EastS. WestYorksh.N.West
Midls.
Sources: Capital Economics and the Department for Education
25
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker