Editor's Comment: School's out, construction's in

Editor's comment: School's out, construction's in

The CITB's draft annual report paints a somewhat gloomy picture of the industry's ability to find and train the 88,000 new entrants it needs to meet predicted demand over the next five years.

It points out that the age profile of the existing workforce has undergone significant change over the last 10 years. The average age is in the 30 to 39 range and there is a rising number of over 45-year-olds and a sharp decline in younger workers.

The extensive use of migrant workers, especially from eastern Europe, has compensated for the decline, but the CITB is worried that over-reliance on foreign workers means UK firms will get out of the habit of training young British recruits. A potentially devastating scenario.

But all is not lost. The DfES sponsored report, Destinations 2005, appears to give the lie to the current belief that British school leavers would do anything to give construction a wide berth.

Quite the opposite it seems. The report reveals that the most popular choice of career for school leavers over the age of 16 is none other than the construction industry.

Some good news at last then. Last month, CJ reported that applications for construction-related university courses were also rising, so the combined good news at the interest in both the white and blue collar sectors is encouraging.

Has the industry finally turned the corner in changing its poor image in the minds of Britain's youth? Caution needs to be exercised, but the signs are that something has changed.

The key task now must be to capitalise on this rising interest and not lose the momentum. Firms need to provide places for both craft apprenticeships and graduates to learn and apply their skills in a way that makes them want to stay in the industry. There's everything to play for and much to lose.

James Atkinson, Deputy editor, Contract Journal (15 March 2006)