Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis?

2019-05-16T10:35:16Z

Caroline Pegden:

= How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis? =

{|
| [[File:Bricklaying_wall_source_unsplash.jpg|link=File:Bricklaying_wall_source_unsplash.jpg]]
|-
| The latest Federation of Masters Building Survey in Q1 2019 indicates that [https://www.fmb.org.uk/media/44247/fmb-state-of-trade-survey-q1-2019.pdf 64%] of construction businesses are struggling to hire bricklayers. While the situation is not new, it has worsened steadily since 2013.
|}

= What is the scale of the bricklayer skill shortage in the UK? =

According to ONS data, there were nearly [https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018 60,000] people involved in brickwork in the UK as of August 2018.

The Letwin report commissioned by the UK government in 2018 estimates the shortage of bricklayers to [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 15,000], almost a quarter of the bricklayer workforce.

As the UK suffers from an under-supply of new homes, the 2017 Autumn Budget set out an ambition to deliver [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-the-homes-the-country-needs-autumn-budget-2017-brief 300,000 new homes] in England per year. However, with [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 75%] of bricklayers involved in the construction of new homes, a shortage of them has a real impact on the ability of the UK to deliver its planned new homes.

= Why are there shortages of bricklayers? =

In general, the construction industry suffers from an ageing workforce, a lack of training of young people, and a mismatch between the training offered and the real needs of the construction businesses.

Only [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 359] apprenticeships were started in the last three years in bricklaying and around [https://www.ft.com/content/5ec21cca-a967-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83 2,000] young people leave college each year with a technical certificate in bricklaying, which is far from the 15,000 bricklayers the country needs.

While salary is not an issue, with an average annual salary of £42k, according to the Federation of Master Builders, up to £90k in London, it is often the volatility of the demand for work and the lack of an attractive career path that can deter candidates from embracing a career in bricklaying.

= How to address the situation? =

From a government perspective, the Letwin report recommends an immediate “flash” programme of “on-the-job” training over the next five years, requiring the training capacity to double for bricklayers with greater cooperation between government and construction businesses. Over the long term, more efforts to promote careers in construction in schools and colleges would help reduce the skill gaps.

Additionally, it is interesting to note that there is a relatively small proportion of bricklayers coming from outside the UK, 7.4% according to the [https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018 ONS report] on Migrant Labour Force in August 2018, vs. 15.5% for general labourers for example.

The Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) cross industry research report of [https://policy.ciob.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Shortage-Occupations-in-Construction-A-cross-industry-research-report-January-2019.pdf January 2019] is therefore recommending to add bricklayers to the 'Shortage Occupation Lists' on the Migration Advisory Committee to facilitate the employment of foreign bricklayers, particularly post-Brexit.

From a construction business owner perspective, taking in apprentices and spending time giving work experience to young people is critical. A [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/sep/22/bricklayers-boom-skills-timebomb-uk-construction-industry City & Guilds report] had shown that less than half of construction businesses in the UK had plans to take on apprentices over the coming year and over 60% had not offered unpaid work experience in the past 12 months.

As the majority ([https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 90%]) of bricklayers are self-employed, hiring bricklayers on a temporary basis (for example via temporary recruitment [https://www.tempagogo.com/help-to-hire-temp/bricklayers agencies]), can be another solution to address these recruitment challenges.

Finally, embracing technology may also be a way to address the issue in the long term. The UK is the country where developers have the greatest appetite to use construction robotics ([https://www.altusgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Altus-Group-Real-Estate-Development-Trends-Report.pdf 47%] vs. 34% worldwide). While bricklaying robots are still in their infancy, their manufacturers claim that they could lay [https://www.ft.com/content/db2b5d64-10e7-11e8-a765-993b2440bd73 3,000 bricks] a day, 5 to 10 times more than a human bricklayer.

-----
This article was written by [[User:Caroline_Pegden|Caroline Pegden]], Director of [https://www.tempagogo.com/help-to-hire-temp/bricklayers TempaGoGo] on 09 May 2019.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

* Airbrick.
* Blockwork.
* Bricklayer.
* Brick strip foundation.
* Brick veneer.
* Cavity tray.
* Cavity wall.
* Clay.
* Damp-proof course.
* Defects in brickwork
* Efflorescence.
* Fly ash.
* How to lay bricks.
* Mortar.
* Parapet.
* Perpend.
* Pointing.
* Spalling.
* Terracotta.
* Types of brick bonding.
* Types of bricks.
* Which way up should you lay a brick?
* Wall tie failure.

[[Category:Construction_management]]

File:TempaGoGo Quantity surveying apprenticeships.pdf

2019-05-15T17:01:44Z

Caroline Pegden: TempaGoGo analysis on the number of quantity surveying apprenticeships started since 2014/15 based on the Department for Education statistics.

TempaGoGo analysis on the number of quantity surveying apprenticeships started since 2014/15 based on the Department for Education statistics.

Can apprenticeships solve the construction skills crisis?

2019-05-15T17:00:47Z

Caroline Pegden:

With an estimated 168,500 construction jobs to be created between 2019 and 2023 according to the [https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-our-construction-industry-research-reports/forecasts/csn-forecasts-2019-2023-uk/ CITB], apprenticeships in construction have a real role to play in closing the skills gap.

= A strong uptake in construction apprenticeships =

According to the latest data released by the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education], the number of Building and Construction Apprenticeships started over the past 5 years has significantly increased. If the current number of construction apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19 grows at the same rate as the previous years, the number of construction apprenticeships will have doubled in a year.

[[File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png]]

Furthermore, the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education] data published in January 2019 also shows that the proportion of Building and Construction Apprenticeships in the total number of apprenticeships has significantly increased over the period, from 3.7% in 2014/15 to 8.4% in the first 3 months of 2018/19.

[[File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png]]

While apprenticeships have a very important role to play in helping address the construction skills shortages, there are still some challenges ahead.

= All construction apprenticeships are not equal =

Brickworkers is one of the skilled trades in highest demand in the UK construction industry, with an estimated shortage of 15,000 bricklayers in the UK, according to the Letwin report.

However, while the Bricklaying apprenticeship [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/bricklayer/ standard] has been approved in June 2018, only 4 months after the Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/?keywords=carpentry standards] (Level 2 and 3), there has been 4 times less apprenticeships started in bricklaying than in carpentry in Q1 2018/19, according to the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education statistics.]

[[File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png]]

On the other hand, while Quantity Surveying is one of the occupations experiencing acute skill shortages in the UK, the number of surveying apprenticeships as grown steadily since the introduction of 3 apprenticeships standards ([https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/chartered-surveyor-degree/ chartered surveyor degree], [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/surveying-technician/ surveying technician] and most recently [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/geospatial-survey-technician/ geospatial survey technician]).

-- This article was created by [[User:Caroline_Pegden|Caroline Pegden]] from [https://www.tempagogo.com/help-to-hire-temp/construction-workers TempaGoGo] on 15 May 2019.

Can apprenticeships solve the construction skills crisis?

2019-05-15T16:43:22Z

Caroline Pegden:

With an estimated 168,500 construction jobs to be created between 2019 and 2023 according to the [https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-our-construction-industry-research-reports/forecasts/csn-forecasts-2019-2023-uk/ CITB], apprenticeships in construction have a real role to play in closing the skills gap.

= A strong uptake in construction apprenticeships =

According to the latest data released by the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education], the number of Building and Construction Apprenticeships started over the past 5 years has significantly increased. If the current number of construction apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19 grows at the same rate as the previous years, the number of construction apprenticeships will have doubled in a year.

[[File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png]]

Furthermore, the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education] data published in January 2019 also shows that the proportion of Building and Construction Apprenticeships in the total number of apprenticeships has significantly increased over the period, from 3.7% in 2014/15 to 8.4% in the first 3 months of 2018/19.

[[File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png]]

While apprenticeships have a very important role to play in helping address the construction skills shortages, there are still some challenges ahead.

= All Construction Apprenticeships are not equal =

Brickworkers is one of the skilled trade in highest demand in the UK construction industry, with an estimated shortage of 15,000 bricklayers in the UK, according to the Letwin report.

However, while the Bricklaying apprenticeship [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/bricklayer/ standard] has been approved in June 2018, only 4 months after the Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeships [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/?keywords=carpentry standards] (Level 2 and 3), there has been 4 times less bricklaying apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19, according to the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education statistics.]

[[File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png]]

On the other hand, while Quantity Surveying is one of the occupations experiencing acute skill shortages in the UK, the number of surveying apprenticeships as grown steadily since

-- This article was created by [[User:Caroline_Pegden|Caroline Pegden]] from [https://www.tempagogo.com/help-to-hire-temp/construction-workers TempaGoGo] on 15 May 2019.

User:Caroline Pegden - TempaGoGo

2019-05-15T16:37:50Z

Caroline Pegden:

Can apprenticeships solve the construction skills crisis?

2019-05-15T16:35:59Z

Caroline Pegden:

With an estimated 168,500 construction jobs to be created between 2019 and 2023 according to the [https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-our-construction-industry-research-reports/forecasts/csn-forecasts-2019-2023-uk/ CITB], apprenticeships in construction have a real role to play in closing the skills gap.

= A strong uptake in construction apprenticeships =

According to the latest data released by the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education], the number of Building and Construction Apprenticeships started over the past 5 years has significantly increased. If the current number of construction apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19 grows at the same rate as the previous years, the number of construction apprenticeships will have doubled in a year.

[[File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png]]

Furthermore, the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education] data published in January 2019 also shows that the proportion of Building and Construction Apprenticeships in the total number of apprenticeships has significantly increased over the period, from 3.7% in 2014/15 to 8.4% in the first 3 months of 2018/19.

[[File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png]]

While apprenticeships have a very important role to play in helping address the construction skills shortages, there are still some challenges ahead.

= A mismatch between construction apprenticeships and demand =

Brickworkers is one of the skilled trade in highest demand in the UK construction industry, with an estimated shortage of 15,000 bricklayers in the UK, according to the Letwin report.

However, while the Bricklaying apprenticeship [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/bricklayer/ standard] has been approved in June 2018, only 4 months after the Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeships [https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/?keywords=carpentry standards] (Level 2 and 3), there has been 4 times less bricklaying apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19, according to the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education statistics.]

[[File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png]]

--[[User:Caroline_Pegden|Caroline Pegden]] 17:33, 15 May 2019 (BST)

Can apprenticeships solve the construction skills crisis?

2019-05-15T16:33:38Z

Caroline Pegden:

With an estimated 168,500 construction jobs to be created between 2019 and 2023 according to the [https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-our-construction-industry-research-reports/forecasts/csn-forecasts-2019-2023-uk/ CITB], apprenticeships in construction have a real role to play in closing the skills gap.

= A strong uptake in construction apprenticeships =

According to the latest data released by the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education], the number of Building and Construction Apprenticeships started over the past 5 years has significantly increased. If the current number of construction apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19 grows at the same rate as the previous years, the number of construction apprenticeships will have doubled in a year.

[[File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_construction_apprenticeship_uptake.png]]

Furthermore, the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education] data published in January 2019 also shows that the proportion of Building and Construction Apprenticeships in the total number of apprenticeships has significantly increased over the period, from 3.7% in 2014/15 to 8.4% in the first 3 months of 2018/19.

[[File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Proportion_of_Construction_apprenticeships.png]]

While apprenticeships have a very important role to play in helping address the construction skills shortages, there are still some challenges ahead.

= A mismatch between construction apprenticeships and demand =

Brickworkers is one of the skilled trade in highest demand in the UK construction industry, with an estimated shortage of 15,000 bricklayers in the UK, according to the Letwin report.

However, while the Bricklaying apprenticeship framework has been approved only 4 months after the Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeships framework (both xx), there has been 4 times less bricklaying apprenticeships started in Q1 2018/19, according to the [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 Department for Education statistics.]

[[File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png|link=File:TempaGoGo_Brickwork_and_carpentry_apprenticeship.png]]

--[[User:Caroline Pegden|Caroline Pegden]] 17:33, 15 May 2019 (BST)

Can apprenticeships solve the construction skills crisis?

2019-05-15T16:27:45Z

Caroline Pegden:

Can apprenticeships solve the construction skills crisis?

2019-05-15T16:22:07Z

Caroline Pegden: Created page with "With an estimated 168,500 construction jobs to be created between 2019 and 2023 according to the [https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/search-..."

File:TempaGoGo Brickwork and carpentry apprenticeship.png

2019-05-15T16:12:26Z

Caroline Pegden: TempaGoGo analysis on the number of brickworker and carpentry and joinery apprenticeships started since 2017.

TempaGoGo analysis on the number of brickworker and carpentry and joinery apprenticeships started since 2017.

File:TempaGoGo Proportion of Construction apprenticeships.png

2019-05-15T15:57:00Z

Caroline Pegden: TempaGoGo analysis of the proportion of construction apprenticeships in the total number of apprenticeships started between 2014/15 and Q1 2018/19 based on the Department of Education data.

TempaGoGo analysis of the proportion of construction apprenticeships in the total number of apprenticeships started between 2014/15 and Q1 2018/19 based on the Department of Education data.

File:TempaGoGo construction apprenticeship uptake.png

2019-05-15T15:47:28Z

Caroline Pegden: Analysis from TempaGoGo based on the Department of Education data on the uptake of construction apprenticeships from 2015/16 to Q1 2018/19.

Analysis from TempaGoGo based on the Department of Education data on the uptake of construction apprenticeships from 2015/16 to Q1 2018/19.

How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis?

2019-05-09T10:48:19Z

Caroline Pegden:

= How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis? =

[[File:Bricklaying wall source unsplash.jpg]]

The latest Federation of Masters Building Survey in Q1 2019 indicates that [https://www.fmb.org.uk/media/44247/fmb-state-of-trade-survey-q1-2019.pdf 64%] of construction businesses are struggling to hire bricklayers. While the situation is not new, it has worsened steadily since 2013.

== What is the scale of the bricklayer skill shortage in the UK? ==

According to ONS data, there were nearly [https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018 60,000] people involved in brickwork in the UK as of August 2018.

The Letwin report commissioned by the UK government in 2018 estimates the shortage of bricklayers to [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 15,000], almost a quarter of the bricklayer workforce.

As the UK suffers from an under-supply of new homes, the 2017 Autumn Budget set out an ambition to deliver [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-the-homes-the-country-needs-autumn-budget-2017-brief 300,000 new homes] in England per year. However, with [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 75%] of bricklayers involved in the construction of new home, a shortage of them has a real impact on the ability of the UK to deliver its planned new homes.

== Why are there shortages of bricklayers? ==

In general, the construction industry suffers from an ageing workforce, a lack of training of young people, and a mismatch between the training offered and the real needs of the construction businesses.

Only [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 359] apprenticeships were started in the last three years in bricklaying and around [https://www.ft.com/content/5ec21cca-a967-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83 2,000] young people leave college each year with a technical certificate in bricklaying, which is far from the 15,000 bricklayers the country needs.

While salary is not an issue, with an average annual salary of £42k, according to the Federation of Master Builders, up to £90k in London, it is often the volatility of the demand for work and the lack of an attractive career path that can deter candidates from embracing a career in bricklaying.

== How to address the situation? ==

From a government perspective, the Letwin report recommends an immediate “flash” programme of “on-the-job” training over the next 5 years, requiring the training capacity to double for bricklayers with greater cooperation between government and construction businesses. Over the long term, more efforts to promote careers in construction in schools and colleges would help reduce the skill gaps.

Additionally, it is interesting to note that there is a relatively small proportion of bricklayers coming from outside the UK, 7.4% according to the [https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018 ONS report] on Migrant Labour Force in August 2018, vs. 15.5% for general labourers for example.

The Chartered Institute of Building - cross industry research report of [https://policy.ciob.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Shortage-Occupations-in-Construction-A-cross-industry-research-report-January-2019.pdf January 2019] is therefore recommending to add bricklayers to the “Shortage Occupation Lists” on the Migration Advisory Committee to facilitate the employment of foreign bricklayers, particularly post-Brexit.

From a construction business owner perspective, taking in apprentices and spending time giving work experience to young people is critical. A [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/sep/22/bricklayers-boom-skills-timebomb-uk-construction-industry City & Guilds report] had shown that less than half of construction businesses in the UK had plans to take on apprentices over the coming year and over 60% had not offered unpaid work experience in the past 12 months.

As the majority ([https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 90%]) of bricklayers are self-employed, hiring bricklayers on a temporary basis (for example via temporary recruitment [https://www.tempagogo.com/help-to-hire-temp/bricklayers agencies]), can be another solution to address these recruitment challenges.

Finally, embracing technology may also be a way to address the issue in the long term. The UK is the country where developers have the greatest appetite to use construction robotics ([https://www.altusgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Altus-Group-Real-Estate-Development-Trends-Report.pdf 47%] vs. 34% worldwide). While bricklaying robots are still in their infancy, their manufacturers claim that they could lay [https://www.ft.com/content/db2b5d64-10e7-11e8-a765-993b2440bd73 3,000 bricks] a day, 5 to 10 times more than a human bricklayer.

--[[User:Caroline Pegden|Caroline Pegden]] 11:48, 09 May 2019 (BST)

[[Category:Construction_management]]

File:Bricklaying wall source unsplash.jpg

2019-05-09T10:46:44Z

Caroline Pegden: Bricklaying wall needing repair

Bricklaying wall needing repair

How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis?

2019-05-09T10:40:06Z

Caroline Pegden: Created page with "How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis? The latest Federation of Masters Building Survey in Q1 2019 indicates that [https://www.fmb.org.uk/media/44247/fmb-state-of-trade-surve..."

How to solve the bricklayer skill crisis?

The latest Federation of Masters Building Survey in Q1 2019 indicates that [https://www.fmb.org.uk/media/44247/fmb-state-of-trade-survey-q1-2019.pdf 64%] of construction businesses are struggling to hire bricklayers. While the situation is not new, it has worsened steadily since 2013.

What is the scale of the bricklayer skill shortage in the UK?

According to ONS data, there were nearly [https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018 60,000] people involved in brickwork in the UK as of August 2018.

The Letwin report commissioned by the UK government in 2018 estimates the shortage of bricklayers to [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 15,000], almost a quarter of the bricklayer workforce.

As the UK suffers from an under-supply of new homes, the 2017 Autumn Budget set out an ambition to deliver [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-the-homes-the-country-needs-autumn-budget-2017-brief 300,000 new homes] in England per year. However, with [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 75%] of bricklayers involved in the construction of new home, a shortage of them has a real impact on the ability of the UK to deliver its planned new homes.

Why are there shortages of bricklayers?

In general, the construction industry suffers from an ageing workforce, a lack of training of young people, and a mismatch between the training offered and the real needs of the construction businesses.

Only [https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-january-2019 359] apprenticeships were started in the last three years in bricklaying and around [https://www.ft.com/content/5ec21cca-a967-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83 2,000] young people leave college each year with a technical certificate in bricklaying, which is far from the 15,000 bricklayers the country needs.

While salary is not an issue, with an average annual salary of £42k, according to the Federation of Master Builders, up to £90k in London, it is often the volatility of the demand for work-, and the lack of an attractive career path that can deter candidates from embracing a career in bricklaying.

How to address the situation?

From a government perspective, the Letwin report recommends an immediate “flash” programme of “on-the-job” training over the next 5 years, requiring the training capacity to double for bricklayers with greater cooperation between government and construction businesses. Over the long term, more efforts to promote careers in construction in schools and colleges would help reduce the skill gaps.

Additionally, it is interesting to note that there is a relatively small proportion of bricklayers coming from outside the UK, 7.4% according to the [https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/articles/migrantlabourforcewithintheconstructionindustry/august2018 ONS report] on Migrant Labour Force in August 2018, vs. 15.5% for general labourers for example.

The Chartered Institute of Building - cross industry research report of [https://policy.ciob.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Shortage-Occupations-in-Construction-A-cross-industry-research-report-January-2019.pdf January 2019] is therefore recommending to add bricklayers to the “Shortage Occupation Lists” on the Migration Advisory Committee to facilitate the employment of foreign bricklayers, particularly post-Brexit.

From a construction business owner perspective, taking in apprentices and spending time giving work experience to young people is critical. A [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/sep/22/bricklayers-boom-skills-timebomb-uk-construction-industry City & Guilds report] had shown that less than half of construction businesses in the UK had plans to take on apprentices over the coming year and over 60% had not offered unpaid work experience in the past 12 months.

As the majority ([https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-build-out-draft-analysis 90%]) of bricklayers are self-employed, hiring bricklayers on a temporary basis (for example via temporary recruitment [https://www.tempagogo.com/help-to-hire-temp/bricklayers agencies]), can be another solution to address these recruitment challenges.

Finally, embracing technology may also be a way to address the issue in the long term. The UK is the country where developers have the greatest appetite to use construction robotics ([https://www.altusgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Altus-Group-Real-Estate-Development-Trends-Report.pdf 47%] vs. 34% worldwide). While bricklaying robots are still in their infancy, their manufacturers claim that they could lay [https://www.ft.com/content/db2b5d64-10e7-11e8-a765-993b2440bd73 3,000 bricks] a day, 5 to 10 times more than a human bricklayer.

[[Category:Roles_/_services]]