UK construction skills shortage response strategies and an analysis of industry perceptions

The construction industry is heavily dependent on the adequate supply of a skilled labour force, and as a result the skilled labour shortage in the UK has received considerable attention in recent years. With the current economic recovery the industry is expected to experience considerable skills shortages in both traditional and new skills areas. This paper analyses the views of construction employers in relation to the response strategies promoted by industry and government and identified in previous research which tackle elements of the skills shortage problem within the UK construction industry. The paper describes seven existing industry and government schemes, and a further nine alternative response strategies to the construction skills shortage. The survey analysis demonstrates that construction employers support: (i) the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, (ii) the Investors in People standard, (iii) economic stability within the industry; (iv) long term industry-wide training plans, (v) a return to direct employment; and (vi) the development of new technologies and construction techniques. It is concluded that the effectiveness of alternative response strategies is linked to the traditional approach of most contractors.