The UK Construction Skills Shortage in 2026: How Many Workers We Need and How to Get In

How big is the shortage?

CITB's Construction Workforce Outlook 2026 to 2030, published in June 2026, puts recruitment need at 41,200 extra workers a year on average. Skills England's 2026 assessment of the construction sector goes further, estimating the shortfall of construction labour at between 201,000 and 755,000 by 2030, depending on assumptions, and 333,000 extra workers needed for housebuilding alone from 2024 to 2030.

The National Audit Office reported in July 2026 that 45% of construction vacancies were hard to fill in 2024, the highest rate of any sector. The workforce is around 2.8 million people, and 85% of them are men, so there is a large pool of potential new entrants the industry has not yet reached.

Why demand is rising

• Housing. The government has committed to 1.5 million new homes in England over this Parliament.
• Energy. The Clean Energy Jobs Plan lists electricians and electrical fitters among 31 priority occupations, with demand in clean energy alone expected to more than double by 2030.
• Data centres and infrastructure. Data centres are now Critical National Infrastructure, and AI Growth Zones need sites built, powered and cooled.
• Replacement. Experienced tradespeople are retiring and need replacing.

What the government is doing

In March 2025 the Chancellor announced a £625 million package to help train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers. It includes ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges, backed by £100 million, and up to 32 Homebuilding Skills Hubs by 2028. The NAO noted that the package was developed at speed, leading to some uncertainty about what would be delivered and when, so training providers and employers still have a large part to play.

Routes into the trades

Most construction trades are learned on the job, with study alongside. The usual routes are:

• Apprenticeships with an employer, combining paid work and off-the-job training.
• Work-based programmes at Levels 3 to 5 that pair study with practical work on live sites.
• Short skills courses for career changers who need site safety and core trade skills before starting work.
• Progression from trade roles into supervision, site management and specialist areas such as electrical installation for data centres and energy.

Advice for employers and councils

Employers who train new entrants now will be better placed as demand rises. Councils and combined authorities can link construction training to local housing and regeneration plans, so that the people who live in an area get the jobs created by building in it.

Frequently asked questions

How many construction workers does the UK need?

CITB's Construction Workforce Outlook 2026 to 2030 says an average of 41,200 extra workers will be needed each year, around 206,000 over the five years.

Is construction the hardest sector to recruit for?

The National Audit Office reported in July 2026 that construction has the highest rate of hard-to-fill vacancies due to skills shortages of any sector, with 45% of vacancies hard to fill in 2024.

What is the £625 million construction skills package?

It is a government package announced in March 2025 to help train up to 60,000 more skilled construction workers, including Construction Technical Excellence Colleges and Homebuilding Skills Hubs.

Are electricians in demand?

Yes. The government's Clean Energy Jobs Plan lists electricians and electrical fitters as a priority occupation, with demand in clean energy expected to more than double by 2030.

Does Orvanta Open College offer construction courses?

We are launching work-based construction trades programmes at Levels 3 to 5. Find out more and enquire on our courses page.