Only 25% of Learners Complete Qualifications
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A report has found construction workers are lacking in quality skills.
The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) identified a critical shortage of skilled craftspeople due to inadequate training. The construction industry has experienced a boom with an annual turnover of £140 billion seeing around 2 million people employed.
Increasing demands over the next 5 to 10 years will occur to complete contracts for the health, education, transport and heritage sectors. Research has also discovered employers tended to not consider training part of their role, only 25% of companies do any apprenticeship training at all. Nicky Perry, Director of Inspections said that fewer than 40,000 individuals entered the construction industry last year, with a possible 34% completing their training.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) trains around 10,000 learners every year. It is estimated around 25% of them will complete their qualification. “The industry is squandering its own future by not facing up to the critical problems endemic in its training methods today,” Ms Perry said.
Around 1% of the construction workforce is female and only ethnic minorities account for only 2.8% of the skilled construction workforce. While the industry must move to recruit women and people from ethnic minorities, the report found young people valued their apprenticeship opportunities causing an increasing demand for apprenticeships for school leavers.
Katherine Hayes
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