www.heatingandventilating.net
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
boilingpoint The industry skills gap
T
he construction industry is facing a skills gap amongst workers, this is a topic that has been covered in recent years but is still an ongoing issue that doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
According to Reed, it is estimated that the construction sector currently needs around 158,000 new recruits to fill vacant roles. Since 2014, construction vacancies have increased by 50% while the number of new recruits is trailing behind at just 14%.
Why is the skills gap increasing?
Ageing workforce: The number of workers within the construction industry over the age of 60 is increasing more than any other age group, this is classified as an ageing workforce. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) revealed that nearly two thirds of the workforce are over 35 and the total number of construction workers under the age of 30 has seen the biggest decrease. The consequences of an ageing workforce are that workers are retiring, or nearing retirement age, at a fast rate; once these workers are retired, they take with them their essential specialist skills. Lack of diversity: According to City and Guilds, men are more likely to find
construction vacancies appealing with only 9% of females declaring that they would consider working within the construction sector. Research conducted by Go Construct shows that currently only 14% of
The latest certified wood burning stoves are more sustainable than many
other forms of heating because the fuel can be sourced locally, and by burning wood, users can reduce the need for fossil fuels. SIA Chair, Andy Hill says: “The Ecodesign regulations for solid fuel appliances mean that manufacturers have to meet tough new targets for efficiency, PMs, CO, NOx and OGC emissions. Significant investment in product development has been made over the last five years that has vastly improved combustion efficiency and significantly reduced emissions. So much so, that a modern stove that meets Ecodesign produces up to 80% less particulate emissions than a stove that is 10+ years old, and up to 90% less than an open fire.” Looking forward, Stephane Canadas says: “Emissions control regulations now
cover every type of combustion source, from wood burning stoves all the way up to power stations, and it is pleasing to see the enthusiasm with which the stove manufacturers have embraced the new regulations. “As a UK manufacturer of reference method gas analysers, we have been working closely with a number of test houses and stove manufacturers, to develop emissions monitoring systems that enable the accurate reliable measurement of stove emissions, so it is pleasing to see such significant improvements in the latest certified stoves. “Clearly, the public is now acutely aware of air quality issues, and the recent
problems in the power sector are likely to force many consumers to consider the use of wood burners. Both air quality and climate change will therefore benefit from the fact that the Ecodesign regulation has set a minimum standard, and that stove emissions levels can now be included in purchasing decisions.”
construction workers are women and as women make up 47% of all employed individuals, the small number of women entering the sector is having a negative impact on vacancies. Increas in demand for construction: There is also an overall increase in demand for construction jobs that is contributing to the shortage of workers. As a result of COVID-19, we have seen a rise in demand for home improvements and there is also the pressure of Net Zero requirements and large-scale infrastructure projects like HS2 that are all putting pressure on the sector to fill vacant roles. Decrease in new recruits: The number of new, young professionals entering
the construction industry is declining. Traditionally, apprenticeships have been a successful route into construction
for young people looking to start their careers but a 2021 report from City and Guilds revealed that only 13% of school leavers planned to pursue an apprenticeship. This could be due to the fact that the construction industry is becoming less
attractive, in the same report completed by City and Guilds, 71% of respondents would not consider working in construction. Brexit: According to The Office of National Statistics 10% of all construction
workers are EU nationals and according to Reed, roughly 34% of all construction workers in London are actually from overseas. Since Brexit, restrictions on the movement of people and the new immigration
system came into place the UK has seen an increase in skills shortages. As these issue look set to continue, we must find new ways to train and expand the workforce. The opportunities are there but it is clear something needs to be done to help combat the skills gap and encourage more young people into construction.
DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW
March 2022 29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
