Britain Faces Skilled Tradesmen Shortage: Urgent Need for Recruitment
A recent report highlights a critical shortage of skilled tradesmen in Britain, threatening the nation’s housing ambitions. According to Checkatrade, a prominent trades provider, there is an urgent requirement to recruit 1.3 million skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices over the next decade to meet government targets and the increasing demand in the construction, home improvement, and repair sectors. The British PA Media agency reports that with an improving economy, lower interest rates, and accelerated planning, the home improvement and repair sector is projected to grow by 40% in the next ten years.
However, this promising growth is jeopardized by the severe shortage of skilled labor, worsened by an aging workforce. Over a third of current tradesmen are over the age of 50, with many planning to retire in the next decade. To compensate for these retirements, the sector will need to hire 377,000 new workers, in addition to 734,000 to meet the existing demand in construction and repair sectors.
In a related note, Britain issued 286,382 work visas in the year ending in June, which is an 11% decrease from the previous year but reflects more than double the numbers from 2019. Among these, 89,095 were for health and care workers, 88,653 for skilled workers, and 34,332 for seasonal workers. This data underscores the pressing need for skilled labor in the UK as the nation grapples with workforce shortages.
