Rethinking the Construction Skills Shortage: Skills Over Headcount

Simply recruiting more people won’t fix the construction industry worker crisis but a closer look at the skills mix could help, says Spokesperson, Job Title of Synergie Training

Construction output is expected to grow by an average of 2.1% between now and 2029 to meet a growing demand for infrastructure, public and private new housing. This means that the workforce must expand by around 0.8% over the same five-year period, the equivalent of 239,300 extra workers over the next five years. With recruitment and retention already an issue for the construction sector, now is the time to focus on which workers are most in demand where and provide practical training pathways to upskill the workforce both now and for the future.

Why targeted training matters in the construction skills shortage

Of course, there are some professions in greater demand than others. According to the Construction Workers Outlook Report 2025 the need for Civil Engineers is expected to grow by 2.7%, Surveyors by 2.5% while the demand for Construction Project Managers sits at 2.4%. Earlier this year, Government announced a £600 million investment to train up 60,000 more construction workers, but while its initiatives represent a genuine platform for change, that change will take time that the construction industry can ill-afford.

Skills gaps impact projects

The skills gap is already impacting projects on a daily basis. If specialist trades, civil engineering professionals, surveyors or project managers are not available, work often gets rescheduled. This can not only cause a delay to a project but the slow can cause knock-on effects to infrastructure and building timelines and budgets. Worse still, the skills gap may mean someone less experienced runs a project, leading to potential dip in build quality and even safety issues.

Clear training pathways can clear bottlenecks

It is clear that skills bottlenecks are causing delays and costing money. That is why it is critical for the construction industry to use all the resources available to ensure that those people in the most demand are always ready to work. Many roles, like civil engineering, and project management for example, need up to date regulatory knowledge and proficiency in the latest software and technology and construction firms need to keep on top of training requirements.

By mapping critical roles in a skills audit and placing investment into those roles that would stop a project if training was not up to date, construction firms can help clear or even prevent bottlenecks.

Flexible training solutions to reduce the construction skills shortage

With demand for critical skills so high, this might sound easier said than done. After all employees are needed on projects. Inaction is not really an option though. Those organisations which plan a clear training pathway, with accredited training at precisely the right time will help keep the skills shortage down, mitigating project disruption and maximising delivery while maintaining safety standards.

Construction professionals who want to find out more about building a workforce with smarter skills should visit our training courses page Synergie Course List  and our training courses by role page Synergie Courses By Role List