Research from Trade-Up has found strong interest from people aged 25-60 in seeking skilled trades roles, with a quarter of women specifically involved
A survey exploring potential applicants to construction industry roles has found a significant interest for skilled trades roles.
Trade-Up’s independent survey consulted 2,087 people aged 25-60 across the UK, finding that one in three (31%) individual said they were likely to consider becoming a tradesperson.
23% of women surveyed indicated they were open to skilled trades, a sub-sector which mirrors the industry’s low levels of female employment and representation.
According to ONS figures, of the 2.1m employees in the construction industry, only 15% are women(roughly 315,000).
Flexibilty and salary were key appeals of skilled trade roles
Key motivations for moving into skilled trades roles were:
- flexibility (38%)
- good salary prospects (32%)
- a growing sector (30%)
- stability (30%)
Respondents who are not satisfied with their current career were particularly attracted to the sector’s flexibility and salary prospects.
However, there are numerous barriers holding potential applicants back
Anecdotal perceptions of lacking the correct skills or falling short of industry stereotypes hold people back from pursuing trades careers, according to the survey.
Half (51%) of people cite a lack of confidence as a reason they wouldn’t consider becoming a tradesperson, a common theme across both men (47%) and women (53%).
Training and access were also of concern to respondents. A third of those surveyed said having access to work opportunities with existing tradespeople to build confidence would encourage them into a trade career, whereas expensive training (33%) and retraining taking too long (29%) are considered some of the biggest roadblocks.
The collective desire for better support is evident, with access to easy funding for courses (34%) and faster routes to be a qualified tradesperson (29%) cited amongst the most important enablers for people getting into the sector.
Despite these barriers, over half (53%) of respondents are motivated to learn new skills and knowledge in a domestic trade. A majority (60%) of people interested in exploring trade as a career pursuit are willing to take on extra training, including half of women surveyed.
Shattering the glass ceiling and the skills shortage
Melanie Waters, managing director of Trade-Up, commented: “The construction and trade industries are hungry for talent, and there is clear appetite to pursue a career in this space. The focus now is on shattering the glass ceiling and bridging the divide to build an industry that is not only inclusive, but welcoming.
“Trades are a compelling and achievable option for anyone wanting to reinvent themselves and their careers. Yet the research shows that more work needs to be done by the industry and government to provide accessible, affordable pathways into the sector. Only through continued investments in skilled training programmes and a focus on expanding opportunities to all can we truly increase diversity.
“It is encouraging to see the wave of new talent keen to enrich their careers and make a living helping others, and we must inspire more people to join the ranks, not only to protect the industry, but to help our workforce thrive.”
