NBS quizzed 2,000 18-29 year-olds across the UK regarding construction as a potential vocation, yielding surprising, but refreshingly positive results

Importantly, the survey indicates a distinct cultural shift in attitudes among younger generations, in part, helped by the growing number of digital opportunities available and extensive media attention around the sector’s use of industry-leading tech, dispelling the myth that construction is a dead-end career.

Russell Haworth, CEO of NBS, said: “It’s clear that perceptions around construction are changing. Young people now realise it’s not the dull, dangerous, and dirty job as mislabelled for years by educators and career advisors. It’s great to see such an uptick in interest following some very lean years recruitment-wise. The challenge for the sector now is to jump on this opportunity, we must not miss it as has previously been the case.”

The poll included diversity-related questions and found marked improvement in a sector which has struggled to be inclusive for decades.

Highlighting the fact that construction has been made to be more inclusive, 57% of females also stated that they consider construction to be a generally ‘diverse’ industry.

Now over a fifth of women are ‘very interested' in construction as a career, showing scope for an influx of female employees following A-level and university results day.

However, a similar number are being actively dissuaded by peers and family to take a job in the industry. It shows while personal attitudes are changing, sector misconceptions persist, which must be overcome.

Dismissing stereotypes that Millennials and Gen Z aren’t interested in highly-skilled occupations, ‘engineer’, particular structural and civils roles, ranked number two when it came to the list of most sought-after jobs.

This was second only to ‘Healthcare Professional’ in popularity, ranking higher than ‘Legal Professional’ ‘Teacher’, ‘Designer’, or even ‘Social Media Influencer’.

Over a third flagged they were interested in construction because they see it as an industry ‘going through a massive, positive change’. This might reflect a growing public awareness over the past few years around the sector’s growing diversity, greater digital adoption, and greener approaches to business.

Emphasising the impact innovation is having on the industry, three quarters of respondents also recognised that ‘a lot’ or a ‘fair amount’ of technology is used in contemporary construction.

Unsurprisingly, salary and earning potential were a main motivator. ‘Good pay’ ranked top of the incentive list, followed by a good home and work balance (2), a respectful working environment (3), interesting work (4), and working with nice people (5). 

However, despite an uplift in interest from a younger generation looking to make their way in the industry, another recent study by the Association of Colleges (AoC) found skills shortages among staff looking to teach construction are stalling progress.

Putting the problem into context, 85% of further education colleges have struggled to secure staff to teach the relevant subjects. It’s a problem that will need to be addressed should the indicative findings of NBS’s report be borne out in reality and an influx of interest in construction roles occurs over the next six months.

Russell concludes: “This study has proven to be a litmus test of where the industry is heading within the next twenty years – seeing more women and greater diversity entering the workforce will only continue its upward trajectory. With so much interest from young people our next challenge is turning interest into long and fruitful careers.”

To see the survey data, click here.