Construction Workforce Outlook 2026-2030 Published

The Construction Workforce Outlook 2026-30 is published today by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The annual report sets out expected construction demand over the next five years and implications for the construction workforce. 

The Outlook shows growth is expected to return to the industry over the medium-term, but that it continues to face ongoing pressures in recruiting and retaining the workforce it needs. The short-term picture for construction is challenging, with uncertainty and cost pressures affecting activity.

Sustained Focus Needed

Meeting future demand will require sustained focus on recruitment, training and supporting people into construction jobs. This includes both attracting new entrants and replacing workers leaving the industry, and will require collaboration across industry, stakeholders and government to meet the demands of the workforce.

The Outlook provides a UK-wide view, alongside insights for nations and regions, showing where demand is likely to be strongest and how workforce needs may change over time.

CITB has been producing the Construction Workforce Outlook since 2006/2007 to provide evidence and insights into the number of workers needed to meet forecasted demand. It is still the only report of this type for the construction industry and uses a range of both backward- and forward-looking data to understand future training needs.

Closing the Skills Gap

Currently, too few people are entering the sector, too many experienced workers are leaving, and productivity improvements have not been sufficient to close the gap. This will increasingly put a strain on the industry’s capacity to deliver on housing, infrastructure and retrofit commitments.

Mark Farmer, a member of the Construction Skills Mission Board and Construction Leadership Council, said: “There’s never been a more important time to be thinking about the strategic outlook for the industry and its workforce needs. This ultimately is a data driven exercise of balancing both current and future supply and demand.

“The latest Construction Workforce Outlook published by CITB indicates that despite industry currently grappling with challenging economic conditions, longer-term needs to replenish and sustainably grow the workforce remain. Bridging the gap between current capacity to employ and train and the imperative to build a future ready workforce remains the central challenge.”

Download the Construction Workforce Outlook 2026-2030.

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