Authors of the report warn that with job vacancies at a record high, and unemployment at its lowest level in 50 years, developing a highly-skilled workforce will be the biggest challenge contractors will face over the next five years.

If projected growth is met, construction employment could reach a high of nearly 2.78 million workers by 2026.

The largest increases in annual demand are expected to be for occupations such as carpenters and joiners; construction managers, along with a range of technical roles.

These include electronics technicians, civil engineering technicians, estimators and valuers, as well as office-based support staff. 

CITB CEO Tim Balcon, said: “These future growth projections are encouraging after the stalling effects of the pandemic. However, this is set against a current backdrop of higher energy costs, material shortages, and associated price inflation that is currently hitting companies across the sector.    

 “The industry has a lot to offer, and there is so much potential to engage in a career that sees you enter the industry as an apprentice and leave it as a CEO. The industry needs to use its many strengths to attract and retain top talent in a competitive recruitment landscape

 “Training routes into the industry will be a focus for us and we have to attract and retain those that are under-represented – in particular women and those from ethnic minorities.  It will be a major task, but construction needs to evolve and reach its untapped potential for the national economy and our competitiveness on a global scale.”