The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has released its annual Construction Workforce Outlook, this year covering the five-year period from 2026 to 2030. It is the most detailed forward picture the industry has of where demand is heading and how many trained workers will be needed to meet it.
The headline finding is cautiously positive: growth is expected to return to the construction industry over the medium term. But the report makes clear that the sector does not currently have enough trained workers in the pipeline to meet the demand that growth will create. That gap is the central problem the industry faces, and it is not new.
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What the report covers
The Construction Workforce Outlook sets out expected construction output over the five-year period and translates that into workforce requirements. It looks at which trades and disciplines will be under the greatest pressure, and identifies where training investment needs to be concentrated.
CITB publishes this report annually. It is used by training providers, employers, government, and regional bodies to plan apprenticeship programmes, course funding, and skills investment. For individual tradespeople and contractors, the report gives a read on which areas of work are likely to see sustained demand and which may face more competition.
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Why the skills gap persists
Construction has had a skills shortage discussion for at least two decades. The workforce is ageing: a significant proportion of experienced tradespeople are approaching retirement, and the industry has not recruited or trained enough younger workers to replace them. This is not a sudden crisis. It is a slow structural problem that the CITB has been tracking year on year.
The practical effect on site is already visible in many parts of the UK. Labour costs for experienced trades are high. Specialist subcontractors in areas such as groundworks, brickwork, and M&E work are often booked months in advance. Projects in some regions face delays not because of materials but because of insufficient skilled people to do the work.
The 2026-2030 period coincides with anticipated public sector construction investment, including schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, as well as continued residential demand and retrofit activity driven by energy efficiency targets. That combination is likely to increase pressure on the workforce further.
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What it means for tradespeople
For working tradespeople and contractors, a forecast of growth paired with a skills shortage is broadly good news on wages and workload. Demand for skilled labour pushes day rates and contract values up. Subcontractors with strong reputations and reliable availability will continue to command premium rates.
For anyone considering training or adding qualifications, the CITB outlook reinforces the value of formal certification. Trades that are currently under pressure, including electrical, plumbing, roofing, and groundworks, are likely to remain in demand throughout the forecast period.
For businesses looking to grow, the report underlines the case for investing in apprenticeships and training now rather than waiting for the market to tighten further. Firms that develop their own pipeline of trained workers will be better placed than those relying entirely on the open labour market.
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For construction employers and training providers
The CITB administers a training levy collected from construction employers, and allocates grants for apprenticeships and training programmes based on industry need. The Workforce Outlook shapes those funding priorities.
Employers who engage with CITB training grants can offset some of the cost of bringing on apprentices or upskilling existing workers. Given the five-year outlook and the skills pressures identified in the report, this is a period when that engagement is particularly worth pursuing.
The full 2026-2030 Construction Workforce Outlook is available from the CITB.
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What is the CITB Construction Workforce Outlook?
It is an annual report published by the Construction Industry Training Board that forecasts construction demand and workforce requirements over a five-year period. It is used by employers, training providers, and government to plan skills investment in the industry.
What does the 2026-2030 report say?
The report forecasts that construction demand will grow over the medium term, but that the industry currently lacks enough trained workers to meet that demand. The skills gap is the central issue identified.
What is CITB?
The Construction Industry Training Board is the industry training body for construction in Great Britain. It collects a levy from construction employers and uses it to fund apprenticeships, training grants, and workforce development programmes.
Does the skills gap affect all trades equally?
No. Some trades are under greater pressure than others depending on regional demand, retirement patterns, and how many apprentices have been trained in recent years. Electrical, plumbing, groundworks, and roofing are among the disciplines that have seen sustained shortages.
Where can I read the full report?
The full Construction Workforce Outlook 2026-2030 is available on the CITB website at citb.co.uk. ---