Findings published today (14 January) from the ECITB’s Workforce Census reinforce the scale of the challenge facing the engineering construction industry (ECI) to ensure it has the thousands of additional skilled workers needed to meet future demand.
The ECI plays a crucial role in the UK meeting its net zero ambitions, spanning sectors that focus on the processing, maintenance and decommissioning of heavy industry, including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, chemicals, food and drink, pharmaceuticals and water treatment.
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s (ECITB) report reveals that 71% of employers are experiencing challenges in hiring workers, up from 53% in 2021, with electrical engineers, pipefitters, riggers and design technicians among the hardest to fill vacancies.
Some of the primary reasons cited include a shortage of qualifications and skills among candidates, a mismatch between candidate expectations and what employers can offer, a limited applicant volume, mobility and location issues, and increased competition among employers and other sectors.
The report also highlights that despite an encouraging increase in the number of workers under 30 now working in the industry, up from 14.7% of the workforce in 2021 to 16.8%, this is not yet sufficient to counterbalance the impact of the upcoming wave of possible retirements, with the share of workers over 60 increasing to 14.7%, up from 11.6%.
The Census highlights craft roles as a particular area of concern, with the average worker tending to be older than the industry average. For example, 30% of platers, 24% of welders and 20% of pipefitters are over 60.
The ECITB Workforce Census 2024 offers a comprehensive overview of the ECI workforce, covering distribution across sectors and regions, demographic trends, hiring challenges and business opportunities over the next three years.
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