Construction sector faces skills crisis as 61,000 workers needed annually

Britain’s multi-billion-pound construction pipeline is under threat, as new figures reveal the industry must recruit 61,000 new workers each year to meet demand.

Analysis by CV-Library, which saw a 7.9% rise in job vacancies between January and July 2025, highlighted the pressure facing the sector.

Despite growing demand, the construction workforce has shrunk by 14% over the past five years, while 15% of workers are now aged over 60, according to data from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

A survey of 625 construction professionals conducted by CV-Library suggested dissatisfaction is rife among workers.

More than half (52%) said they had not received a pay rise in the past year, two-thirds (66%) believed employers do not invest in upskilling, and 58% felt access to training and development was lacking.

Lack of career progression was cited as the top frustration by 52% of respondents, while nearly a third (30%) said they would only stay in their current role if offered higher pay.

Despite the challenges, CV-Library’s analysis showed strong interest in construction roles, particularly in the West Midlands and North West, where application volumes remain high.

Among the most in-demand roles were project managers, site managers, surveyors, and skilled trades such as groundworkers and labourers.