Composition of UK construction industry 2013
Construction in the UK accounts for approximately 3 million jobs, 10% of total UK employment (ref Construction 2025) and includes both manufacturing and services.
In July 2013, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) published UK Construction, An economic analysis of the sector. This was based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Business Survey (2011 provisional results) and BIS analysis of ONS Labour Force Survey micro-data (January – March 2013 data).
The report found that the industry is made up as follows:
- Contracting: 2,030,000 jobs, 234,000 businesses, gross value added (GVA) £63 billion.
- Services: 580,000 jobs, 30,000 businesses, gross value added, £14 billion.
- Products: 310,000 jobs, 18,000 businesses. gross value added, £13 billion.
According to BIS, the definition of these categories is as follows:
Contracting include activities such as:
- Construction of buildings e.g. commercial, residential.
- Civil engineering e.g. roads, tunnels, bridges, utilities.
- Specialised construction activities e.g. electrical and plumbing installation, demolition and site preparation, plastering, painting, roofing etc.
Services include activities such as:
- Architectural and quantity surveying activities.
- Wholesale of wood, construction and materials.
- Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment.
- Renting and leasing of construction equipment etc.
Products, include the manufacture of construction products and materials such as:
- Bricks, tiles, cement, concrete products and plaster.
- Metal structures, doors and windows of metal, carpentry and joinery etc.
- Wiring devices, electric lighting equipment etc.
The definition excludes distribution and sales of construction products.
In March 2012, NatCen Social Research published a Survey of Employment by Occupation in the Construction Industry, based on a 2011 survey managed by ConstructionSkills (CITB Construction Industry Training Board).
The report found that 48.7% of workers in the construction industry were manual workers, whilst 51.3% were non manual. These workers were broken down as follows:
Non manual:
- Office support staff, 28.3%
- Managers, 18.7%
- Technicians, 11.4%
- Legal and business professionals, 3.4%
- Engineers, 16.7%
- Architects, 10.1%
- Surveyors, 11.2%
- Town planners, 0.2%
Manual:
- Bricklayers, 11.5%
- Roofers, 5.9%
- Scaffolders, 2.0%
- Floorers, 2.5%
- Painters and decorators, 8.0%
- Partition trades, 2.9%
- Wood trades, 12.7%
- Steel trades ,1.0%
- Galziers, 2.5%
- Civil engineering, 4.7%
- Plant operatives, 3.7%
- Building services, 22.5%
- Specialists, 1.8%
- Modern methods, 1.2%
- Labourers and non-construction, 17.0%
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Construction 2025.
- Construction industry statistics.
- Government departments responsibility for construction.
- UK construction industry.
[edit] External references
- BIS, UK Construction, An economic analysis of the sector, July 2013.
- NatCen Social Research Survey of Employment by Occupation in the Construction Industry, March 2012.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.