Trade Skills Index 2024

Reaching the modelled employment requirements should involve at least 346,600 construction apprentice completions over the next ten years, with 30% for housing I&R

Number of completed apprenticeships required in the UK between 2023 and 2033 by occupation (thousands)

Twelve key trades require 292,500 completed apprenticeships

We estimate that at least 346,600 completed apprenticeships are needed in the construction industry over the next 10 years to carry out the output associated with achieving housing targets and to put the UK on the path to achieving net zero, along with replacing those leaving the sector. Apprenticeship completions in the construction sector would need to average 34,660 per year. To reduce current skills shortages, an even greater number of apprentices would be needed. On average in the UK, the ratio between those completing construction apprenticeships each year and those starting them has been around 53%. If that ratio continues to hold in future, over 65,400 starts each year would be necessary to deliver the required 64,660 completions. Around 103,200 or nearly one-third of the 346,600 apprentices would be required for the home I&R sector. For the twelve trades focused on in this research, a total of 292,500 apprentices would be needed by 2033. This is equivalent to 29,250 per annum on average. The completion rate for those who start construction apprenticeships has historically averaged around 50%. On this basis, in order to get 346,600 qualified construction apprentices over the next ten years, the number of people starting apprenticeships would have to total around 700,000 or the completion rate would have to improve.

Builders

52.3

Carpenters

52.0

Electricians

51.0

Plumbers

41.6

Painters

28.1

Bricklayers

18.7

Roofers

13.1

Glaziers

11.9

Plasterers

9.7

Construction total

346.6

Floorers

7.4

103.2

Housing I&R

12 trade total

292.5

Scaffolders

5.0

Steel erectors

1.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Sources: Capital Economics

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