Research Reveals Gap Between Career Intentions and Next Step Technical Education

New research has revealed that more than half (55%) of UK youths aged 14-18 have considered a career in construction or the trades, yet just 4% are planning to pursue technical education to get there.

The study found that more than a third (35%) of 14-18 year olds are either considering (24%) or actively seeking (11%) a career in construction or the trades.

But relatively few are taking the next step. When asked what path they’re planning to take after their current studies, only 4% named technical education, such as construction or trade college, and just 15% said they’d pursue an apprenticeship. The vast majority are instead defaulting to further or higher education.

The focus on pushing young people towards university education is clearly causing its own problems, as the UK is facing a major crisis of youth unemployment. Recent reports have highlighted that around a million young people are now classed as not in education, employment or training (NEET), and graduate vacancies have dropped by half.

This comes as the construction and trades sector grapples with a significant skills shortage. CITB’s Construction Skills Network estimates the UK will require an additional 41,200 construction workers every year until 2030 in order to meet demand.

Recruiting and supporting young men and women into vocational pathways could help bridge this shortfall, avoiding problems for the sector in the near future.

Impact of AI

The study by Trade Direct Insurance shows that artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as an important factor in young people’s career choices. More than a quarter (28%) of youths said they want a career in an industry that isn’t threatened by AI, while 24% said they want a career where they can use their hands and 31% said they want a job that keeps them active rather than deskbound. This indicates a strong base of potentially interested future tradespeople, who are attracted to a career on the tools.

Careers Advice

That interest is sometimes handicapped by the school system however, and isn’t always matched by the careers advice young people receive, with 16% stating they weren’t taught enough about the trades or construction as a career option at school or college. Among those who previously considered a trades career but have now ruled it out, the top reasons were a lack of interest (34%) and concerns about physical demands (20%).

Additionally, nearly a fifth (18%) said they had concerns about the earning potential of a career in trade. This is despite the fact that experienced employed professionals in many trades can earn upwards of £40,000 per year, with self employed tradespeople often earning significantly more, including six figure salaries.

Women in Trades

Over a quarter (26%) of young women say they considered a career in the trades. However, this still lags behind the interest that young men have, where nearly half (46%) are interested in the sector.  Girls are also more than twice as likely to cite the industry’s existing reputation, for example as male-dominated or a ‘fall back’ career, as a barrier (16% vs. 10% of males).

Patricia Gardiner, at Trade Direct Insurance, said: “While young men currently lead interest in trade careers, seeing over a quarter of young women actively considering this path reveals a real untapped opportunity.

“If we dismantle outdated industry stereotypes, we can change perceptions of the industry, and unlock an entirely new workforce segment to help tackle the national skills crisis. Expanding the female workforce will be an essential component to ensure that the skills shortage does not continue to escalate.”

GCSE-Age Window of Opportunity

The study shows that interest dramatically falls off after GCSE age. More than two fifths (42%) of 14-16 year olds are considering or actively pursuing a trades career, compared to just 26% of 17-18 year olds, a drop of 38%. Meanwhile, the share who say they used to consider it but no longer do climbs from 17% to 24% over the same age range. The findings suggest that schools and industry are missing an opportunity to engage young people about trade careers before that interest fades.

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