Job market information
Finding out about construction – craft roles
The construction sector is represented by ConstructionSkills Sector Skills Council. Construction is the creation of the built environment covering all stages of the construction process, from creating the initial ideas and designs to actually building the structure and ensuring that everything continues to work after it is completed. The sector covers the following areas: building infrastructure (such as roads and rail); the building of public and private housing; the construction of public non‐housing (such as schools); industrial building; the construction of commercial premises (such as offices and retail units); together with the repair and maintenance of these constructions.
ConstructionSkills represents every part of the UK construction industry, from architects to bricklayers. The sector employs 2.35 million people, representing over 8% of the UK workforce.
The craft industry covers a whole range of different trades including:
- Wood occupations – Site Joiner, Shop fitter, Wood Machinist
- Exterior occupations – Bricklayer, General Construction Operative
- Interior occupations – Painter and Decorator, Ceiling Fixer
- Specialist occupations – Thatcher, Roofer, Scaffolder
- Plant occupations – Plant Mechanic, Plant Operator
Careers in construction craft roles suit people who are practical and are willing to work in a team. Craftspeople can also move into professional and technician roles.
Key facts for the construction sector as a whole:
- 92% of organisations in the construction sector employ less than 10 people.
- 55% of the workforce is employed in manual occupations.
- 37% of the workforce is self‐employed.
- Much of the workforce is mobile.
- More than 35% of people in the sector are their own boss running their own companies.
Jobs in the industry range from: bench joiner, wood machinist, built up felt roofer, mastic asphalter, bricklayer, stonemason, dry liner, glazier, renderer, plant operator, demolition
Entry and progression
Most people enter craft careers through apprenticeships; although other types of training schemes are available. A construction apprenticeship is usually a two year programme to NVQ/SVQ level 2, then a further one year advanced programme to achieve NVQ/SVQ level 3. Most craft occupations have an NVQ available at both levels 2 and 3. These qualifications are achieved by assessment onsite combined with some college‐based training.
People looking to gain craft skills and qualifications can take a construction diploma at a further education college, which can be converted to an S/NVQ by recording relevant work‐based evidence on‐site.
There are opportunities to progress in the construction sector and many people start their own companies. Career paths in the sector tend to varied as people train and begin to specialise.
Many adults will find themselves being able to transfer the skills and knowledge they have gained in another field into the craft sector. Some examples of relevant fields include:
- Land based industries – landscaping and agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Engineering
- Armed Forces
- Stage/theatre construction
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
[N.B. These data are for the construction sector as a whole from 2004.]
| Number of UK employees: |
2.35 million |
|---|
| Gender: |
89.9% male |
10.1% female |
|---|
| less than 1% of the workforce in craft and trade occupations is female |
| 11% in construction design and management |
| 30% in all other occupations |
| 1% of sole traders are female |
| Ethnicity: |
97% white |
3% ethnic minority groups |
|---|
| 3% of the workforce in craft and trade occupations is from ethnic minority groups |
| 3% in construction design and management |
| 4% in all other occupations |
| 3% of sole traders are from ethnic minority groups |
Employment trends and future prospects
A high priority for the construction sector in the future will be to address the global challenge of carbon reduction, as it accounts for 47% of all UK carbon emissions generated. New legislation has been put in place in some parts of the sector, but skills will need to be adapted and updated. The key areas for consideration are energy, water, materials and waste. As a result, the sector is looking towards: product innovation; lean manufacturing; innovation in manufacturing away from the construction site; large scale renewable energy; zero‐carbon (residential and non‐residential); low carbon refurbishment of existing stock; low energy buildings; waste management; flood risk; and social/behavioural change.
Individuals employed in one of the many craft occupations may need to be competent with installing features, such as:
- Airtightness – a robust primary air barrier around entire house
- Energy efficient ventilation
- Vented window panels
- Solar panels to convert energy from the sun into electricity
- Factory produced flat panel units which are transported to site for assembly
- Vacuum insulation panels
- Cavity wall insulation, external insulation and refurbishment of sash windows
Employment in the industry is likely to continue to fall until early 2011 and then begin to pick up to 2014. As economic conditions improve, stabilisation and then recovery are expected for the private housing, industrial and commercial sectors. In contrast, public sector works are facing expenditure cuts as projects come under review.
In construction overall, on average, nearly 48,000 new entrants will be needed each year between 2010 and 2014. This average recruitment requirement takes account of the natural flow of workers into and out of the industry such as those retiring, or changing career.
Forecasts suggest that between 2010 and 2014, the UK annual recruitment requirements by craft occupation will be:
- 4,530 wood trade and interior fit out
- 2,070 bricklayers
- 990 building envelope specialists
- 3,720 painters and decorators
- 860 plasterers and dry liners
- 270 roofers
- 1,390 floorers
- 1,130 glaziers
- 950 specialist building operatives e.g. ceiling fixers, pipe layer, thermal insulation fitter
- 1,080 scaffolders
- 3,010 plant operatives
- 1,010 plant mechanics/fitters
- 800 steel erectors/structural
- 6,900 labourers
- 1,150 electrical trades and installation
- 1,080 plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades
- 2,620 civil engineering operatives
Skill requirements and shortages
For most employers in the construction sector, the recession and low or uncertain demand are key issues, so there has been a fall in skills shortages facing employers compared with previous years.
On the contracting side of the sector, the largest volume of skills gaps (around 13,000) was reported for labourers and general operatives. 6% of labourers and general operatives were described as not being fully proficient. Similar numbers of staff were reported not to be fully proficient, including: managers; painters/decorators; administration; carpenters/joiners; scaffolders; and supervisors.
Specific examples of skills required in the craft industry include:
- Solar Thermal – Understanding of installation issues; understanding of high temperatures and pressures; liaison with other contractors e.g. electrician; maintenance of roof integrity i.e. sealing and bracketry; weather tightness of roof
- Heat Pumps e.g. water source heat pump – Supervision of ground works; awareness of potential damage to ground loop post pressure test
- Solar panels – Electrical safety especially high DC voltages; Inverter trip and failure; weather tightness of roof; penetration of roof by fire spread
- Wind turbines – Weather tightness of roof; penetration of roof by fire spread
Many people believe that new products require new skills to design and install them. However, skills are either an add‐on to existing skills or an amalgam of current skills. Roofers for example are now being trained to install solar panels in addition to the traditional skills.
Occupational trends
Total UK employment by craft occupation
| Wood trade and interior fit out |
300,790 |
259,450 |
255,450 |
|---|
| Bricklayers |
93,740 |
82,470 |
77,990 |
|---|
| Building Envelope Specialists |
101,320 |
84,780 |
80,140 |
|---|
| Painters and Decorators |
146,240 |
128,600 |
129,820 |
|---|
| Plasterers and dry liners |
52,760 |
40,660 |
41,230 |
|---|
| Roofers |
50,580 |
40,420 |
38,330 |
|---|
| Floorers |
41,620 |
36,370 |
33,850 |
|---|
| Glaziers |
44,170 |
39,390 |
37,100 |
|---|
| Specialist Building Operatives e.g. Ceiling fixers, Pipe layer, Thermal insulation fitter |
64,600 |
54,640 |
51,050 |
|---|
| Scaffolders |
27,680 |
20,380 |
26,210 |
|---|
| Plant operatives |
51,240 |
46,820 |
59,230 |
|---|
| Plant mechanics/fitters |
35,800 |
32,170 |
33,400 |
|---|
| Steel Erectors/Structural |
32,240 |
26,440 |
27,190 |
|---|
| Labourers |
123,170 |
102,600 |
135,040 |
|---|
| Electrical Trades and Installation |
200,310 |
181,890 |
170,720 |
|---|
| Plumbing and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Trades |
188,120 |
160,140 |
152,970 |
|---|
| Civil Engineering Operatives |
61,450 |
50,980 |
71,200 |
|---|
The highest annual recruitment requirements for craft occupations are for: wood trade and interior fit out (4,530); labourers (6,900); and painters and decorators (3,720).
National and regional data
Fewer employers in the East Midlands and West Midlands who had tried to recruit skilled staff had encountered difficulties (9% and 16% respectively); compared with London and Scotland, where two in five employers had experienced recruitment difficulties (40% and 39% respectively).
East Midlands – The highest requirements are for labourers (1,210) and wood trade and interior fit out (800). There are little or no requirements for: plasterers and dry liners; roofers; plant mechanics/fitters; steel erectors/structural; plus electrical trades and installation.
East of England – The highest requirements are for painters and decorators (1,000) and plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades (870). There are little or no requirements for: wood trade and interior fit out; building envelope specialists; plasterers and dry liners; plant mechanics/fitters; plus electrical trades and installation.
London – The highest requirements are for labourers (640) and plant operatives (510). There are little or no requirements for: wood trade and interior fit out; bricklayers; painters and decorators; roofers; floorers; plant mechanics/fitters; plus plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
North East – The highest requirements are for labourers (550) and bricklayers (510). There are little or no requirements for: roofers; steel erectors/structural; plus plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
North West – The highest requirements are for painters and decorators (620) and floorers (410). There are little or no requirements for: scaffolders; and steel erectors/structural.
South East – The highest requirements are for painters and decorators (340), labourers (290) and civil engineering operatives (290). There are little or no requirements for: bricklayers; building envelope specialists; plasterers and dry liners; roofers; floorers; plant mechanics/fitters; electrical trades and installation; plus plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
South West – The highest requirements are for labourers (1,260) and wood trade and interior fit out (350). There are little or no requirements for: building envelope specialists; painters and decorators; floorers; glaziers; specialist building operatives; plant mechanics/fitters; plus plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
West Midlands – The highest requirements are for labourers (710) and wood trade and interior fit out (640). There are little or no requirements for: bricklayers; plasterers and dry liners; roofers; floorers; glaziers; specialist building operatives; scaffolders; plant mechanics/fitters; plus plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
Yorkshire and the Humber – The highest requirements are for labourers (540) and floorers (340). There are little or no requirements for: building envelope specialists; plasterers and dry liners; glaziers; specialist building operatives; electrical trades and installation; plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades; plus civil engineering operatives.
Northern Ireland – The highest requirements are for wood trade and interior fit out (200) and labourers (180). There are little or no requirements for: building envelope specialists; painters and decorators; plasterers and dry liners; roofers; floorers; glaziers; steel erectors/structural; electrical trades and installation; plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
Scotland – The highest requirements are for plant operatives (1,030) and wood trade and interior fit out (760). There are little or no requirements for: bricklayers; roofers; floorers; electrical trades and installation; plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades.
Wales – The highest requirements are for wood trade and interior fit out (1,170) and labourers (730). There are little or no requirements for: plasterers and dry liners; steel erectors/structural; plus electrical trades and installation.
[N.B. Data derived from Constructionskills Labour Market Intelligence 2010‐2014.]
Salary levels
Construction salaries are influenced by experience, role in the sector, the type of construction that is involved, as well as the geographic location. The following provides a guide to the average salary ranges for a selection of craft roles and applies to fully qualified and experienced people:
- Bricklayer £23,000 – £28,500
- Carpenter £24,000 – £31,000
- Ceiling Fixer £22,000 – £28,000
- Demolition Operative £17,000 – £25,000
- Labourer £15,000 – £21,000
- Painter & Decorator £19,500 – £25,500
- Plant Mechanic £24,000 – £31,000
- Plant Operator £22,000 – £28,000
- Plasterer £21,000 – £29,500
- Roofer £20,000 – £29,000
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Constructionskills AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
