The Stace Next Gen Index

The Stace Next Gen Index shows that the construction sector is losing the war for talent.

The construction sector is losing the war for talent. Only 7% of the next generation (16-18 year olds) are considering a career in the profession. The report identified that the attractiveness of a career in construction decreased further to 6% for females and only 4% for BAME respondents. The Stace Next Gen Index highlights the growing challenges of both filling the skills shortage and the lack of diversity in the industry.

The Construction Sector Backdrop

The UK construction sector when at it’s best leads the way globally. Figures from the Construction Leadership Council show the overall size of the sector – representing 8% of GDP and 10% of UK employment.

However, as each week passes there is another headline on the looming skills shortage and the lack of diversity. These figures collectively show that from every angle, there is a hurdle which the industry needs to overcome, and as a whole, we are missing out on available talent.

The Stace Next Gen Index went to the next generation and sought to understand their perceptions and thoughts regarding a career in the construction sector. As our industry is fully aware of the looming skills shortage, can we place our bets on the next generation to come to the rescue?

The Key Findings

The Stace Next Gen Index has found that the industry is missing out on the top talent from the next generation. 16-18 year olds are not aware of the opportunities available within the construction sector. 41% and 25% stating that they are unaware of the roles of a Quantity Surveyor and a Building Surveyor, respectively.

The report further found that for every response from the next generation, the challenge was increased for female and BAME respondents. The report identified that just 6% of females and only 4% of BAME respondents are considering a career in the construction industry. Additionally, 30% of females and 41% of BAME respondents felt that their parents would discourage them from a career within the construction industry. The figure was just 24% for males.

View the Stace Next Gen Index

Access the full report to view the full findings.

The Stace Next Gen Index – Methodology

Supported by Construction Youth Trust and the CITB, The Stace Next Gen Index is based on interviews with 800 young people aged 16–18, all of whom are living across the UK. The gender split for the research was slightly higher for females, with 55% of respondents being female and 45% being male. The full methodology is available in the report.