Construction hungry for new talent as one in four women open to skilled trades
Posted by: electime 15th June 2023
Flexibility (30 per cent) and salary (30 per cent) are key motivators, but barriers deter aspiring female talent.
New research from Trade-Up, a sector-wide campaign set up to train and up-skill tradespeople, exposes the industry’s talent barriers that stifle new entrants.
Trade-Up commissioned an independent survey among 2,087 people aged 25-60 across the UK. The findings reveal strong interest in pursuing a career in trade, with one in three (31 per cent) individuals saying they are likely to consider becoming a tradesperson. Notably, this trend extends to women, with one in four (23 per cent) open to skilled trades.
Despite growing interest, women continue to be outnumbered across the UK construction sector while the industry faces a growing skills gap. According to the latest ONS figures, of the 2.1 million people currently employed in the construction industry, only 15 per cent are women.
Trade-Up’s research explored the reasons behind the growing interest in trade. Flexibility (38 per cent), good salary prospects (32 per cent), a growing sector (30 per cent) and stability (30 per cent) topped the list of key motivations. Respondents who are not satisfied with their current career are particularly attracted to the sector’s flexibility and salary prospects.
Yet confidence is the biggest obstacle, with the perception of not having the right skills or not meeting industry stereotypes discouraging people from pursuing a career in trade. Half (51 per cent) of people cite this as a reason they wouldn’t consider becoming a tradesperson, a common theme across both men (47 per cent) and women (53 per cent).
A third (36 per cent) of respondents say having access to work opportunities with existing tradespeople to build confidence would encourage them into a trade career, whereas expensive training (33 per cent) and retraining taking too long (29 per cent) are considered some of the biggest roadblocks.
The collective call for better support is evident, with access to easy funding for courses (34 per cent) and faster routes to be a qualified tradesperson (29 per cent) cited amongst the most important enablers for people getting into the sector.
Despite current barriers, over half (53 per cent) of respondents are motivated to learn new skills and knowledge in a domestic trade. A majority (60 per cent) of people interested in exploring trade as a career pursuit are willing to take on extra training, including 50 per cent of women. With centres covering many regions of the UK, Trade-Up’s expert training partners ensure learners are fully equipped with the latest tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
Melanie Waters, Managing Director of Trade-Up, commented: “The construction and trade industries are hungry for talent, and there is clear appetite to pursue a career in this space. The focus now is on shattering the glass ceiling and bridging the divide to build an industry that is not only inclusive, but welcoming.
“Trades are a compelling and achievable option for anyone wanting to reinvent themselves and their careers. Yet the research shows that more work needs to be done by the industry and government to provide accessible, affordable pathways into the sector. Only through continued investments in skilled training programmes and a focus on expanding opportunities to all can we truly increase diversity.
“It is encouraging to see the wave of new talent keen to enrich their careers and make a living helping others, and we must inspire more people to join the ranks, not only to protect the industry, but to help our workforce thrive.”
Trade-Up’s community of leading industry experts supports lifelong learning, bringing more diversity to the industry and empowering self-development. Learners can qualify with skills and training that give them the autonomy to set up a business of their own, secure employment and take back control of their career. For more information visit https://www.trade-up.co.uk/.
