Construction Employment at a 25-Year Low – What Can the UK Do About It?

A recent government article has confirmed my fears… the construction industry’s ability to employ a skilled workforce is at its lowest level in more than two decades, and it is already affecting the UK’s ability to deliver the homes, commercial buildings and infrastructure it urgently needs. 

Latest government figures¹ show that the construction workforce fell by 1.3% in the last quarter to 2.05 million people, representing a 15% fall in capacity since just before Covid. That is an exodus of 367,000 skilled workers, which is a significant and worrying shift for an industry that underpins national growth and safe, well-maintained buildings. 

At Innovus Surveyors, our Project Management team handles the tendering process for a wide range of major works projects. Over the last few years, we have noticed a marked change in the contractor market: fewer companies entering the competitive tender process, more declining opportunities because they simply cannot meet demand, and increasing delays linked to shortages of skilled labour or wider supply chain constraints. Rising material and labour costs only add further pressure. 

We are fortunate to have a strong network of accredited and experienced contractors onboarded with Innovus, but even with that in place, the tightening of the skilled labour market is very clear, and these statistics support what we are experiencing first-hand. 

So how do we begin to address this?
The issue is far bigger than any individual organisation and requires a coordinated approach across industry and government. Some progress is being made. Government-backed training schemes are appearing in certain sectors to subsidise skills development and attract new people into construction and property roles. Employers, including Innovus, are taking responsibility for growing talent pipelines by supporting both junior trainees and experienced professionals transitioning from other construction disciplines. 

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has also opened up more flexible training and qualification pathways. This reflects the reality that experienced, capable surveyors can come from a range of professional backgrounds, bringing insight and transferable skills that the industry needs right now. 

But the question remains: is this enough? 
Given the scale of the reported labour shortages, the government’s ambitions for housing and infrastructure, and the continued drive towards ESG and Net Zero targets, it feels as though we are only addressing the surface of a much larger issue. 

Interest in surveying and construction needs to begin much earlier — at school, college and university level — with the profession promoted as a credible, skilled and rewarding career option. For mature candidates, the pathway into the industry must be clear, supportive and genuinely accessible. So many people in neighbouring disciplines already have transferable skills; they just need the right route in. 

After 25 years in surveying, I can say confidently that it offers exceptional variety. Whether someone is drawn to technical detail, practical on-site work, problem-solving, project delivery or compliance and safety, there is a pathway that aligns with their strengths and interests. The profession needs this breadth of talent, and employers must continue to invest in developing it. 

Technology and AI undoubtedly have a role to play, and they are already supporting many aspects of what we do. But technology can only go so far. We will always need qualified professionals to interpret information, apply judgement and resolve the complex property scenarios that emerge every day. Innovation helps us — but it cannot replace hands on experience. 

The UK urgently needs more skilled, qualified and experienced property and construction professionals to deliver safe, sustainable and high-quality buildings. Those working in the sector are fulfilling a national requirement and leaving a tangible legacy in the places people live and work. This is far more than a job; it is a profession that shapes communities, improves lives and protects the built environment for the future. 

¹Office for National Statistics (ONS), Workforce Jobs by Industry – Construction (Series ID JWS2)