Research shows that skilled trades are being overlooked by schools and colleges as a lucrative career path for young people.
As statistics show that the trades skill shortage continues to pose an imminent threat to the UK, tradesperson champion MyBuilder.com is calling on the Government to take action to help young people into careers in the trades.
A recent survey from MyBuilder.com, a platform that connects reliable tradespeople with customers, showed that many Brits were concerned about the skill shortage, and would encourage their children into careers in trades. In fact, the research showed that parents are recognising the opportunity in this industry, with 15 per cent of parents stating they would like their children to be in a skilled trade – making this the most desirable choice over occupations such as doctors, dentists, or lawyers.
However, many felt that schools and colleges and the Government were not doing enough to promote trades as a career choice. Research revealed that only one in ten (13 percent) of students had been told about the skilled trades as a potential career choice. This is despite the fact that the UK is facing a nationwide trade skills shortage, predicted to cost the UK economy £98bn in missed GDP growth opportunities by 2030. The Construction Products Association (CPA) reported that there were 2.08m people employed in UK construction in 2024 Q1, which is 1.9 per cent lower than in 2023 Q4 and 14.3% lower (with 347,000 fewer workers) than at the recent peak in 2019.
The shortage affects not just existing homeowners who wish to repair, improve, or extend their homes, but the construction industry as a whole as it works to meet ambitious targets for building new homes. The lack of encouragement into trades is surprising when not only does the UK desperately need more people working in the trades, but it can also provide a well paid and reliable career.
Training on the job, no student debt, flexible working hours, and good rates of pay are just some of the benefits of a career in the trades – and yet many young people are still not considering it as an option.
Andy Simms, a construction expert from MyBuilder.com, said that the Government must take action to encourage schools and colleges to promote trades as a career choice.
“We hear from many of our tradespeople that the reason they knew about careers in the skilled trades was because it was a family business, or a friend had started training. However, few were told about it as an option at school – which is a travesty when there is a national shortage, and finding work after education is challenging. Working in the trades is very rewarding and offers so many benefits. There’s no need to get into student debt as you can often get apprenticeships, and there’s so much opportunity to go self employed or work flexible hours.
“Despite all this, and the Government’s housebuilding targets, there still isn’t a push for trades careers – and before long it will become harder and harder to find trades professionals without a long wait. The Government needs to work with schools and colleges to promote trades as an exciting career option to students, before we face even more of a shortage crisis.”
ENDS
Full case studies and images can be found at
- Dan Chaney – case study and image
- Scott McBride – case study and image
- Chanelle Taylor – case study and image
MyBuilder is the reliable way for homeowners to hire the tradespeople they need and tradespeople to get the work they want.
The online platform matches homeowners with vetted and approved local tradespeople for home repairs and improvements across the UK. Homeowners can post their job for free and get responses from tradespeople who are available; they can view their profiles and read reviews from previous customers before deciding who to connect with.
With over 40,000 active tradespeople and 150,000 jobs posted every month, MyBuilder is part of the Instapro Group, Europe’s leading building and home trades marketplace.
For more information or images, please contact Saskia on saskia@jukebox.marketing or call 07956 231676.
This email was sent to ljones@hamerville.co.uk
Jukebox Marketing, 1 Rookery Cottages, Kinsgwood, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0RB, United Kingdom
Ethan Jury
ethan@jukebox.marketing
