The Centre for Social Justice Logo

Call For Evidence: Skills to Build

CSJ launches inquiry on skills and labour shortages in the UK construction sector.

The government has set an ambitious goal to build 1.5 million new homes within the current Parliament, alongside commitments to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings and a new generation of national infrastructure projects, such as a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

However, a significant skills shortage in the housing and construction workforce threatens to derail these plans. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that the country lacks up to 251,000 extra construction workers required by 2028 to meet demand.

At the same time, economic inactivity has hit record highs. 9.3 million people are economically inactive, up by nearly one million since the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also 946,000 young people aged 16-24 not in any form of education, employment or training (NEET).

This call for evidence seeks views on the root causes of the construction skills shortage, what is not working in the existing policy framework, and ideas for policy interventions to support a robust and sustainable construction workforce.

Responses will contribute to a report published in late Summer 2025 and will be kept confidential. Written evidence can also be sent directly to CSJ Senior Researcher, Josh Nicholson. Email: josh.nicholson@centreforsocialjustice.org.uk.

The call for evidence closes on 20th March 2025.

The government has promised to reform skills policy recognising that there has been a historic failure to plan for the workforce of the future. In particular, the government has promised to:

  • Establish Skills England.
  • Work with the Migration Observatory Committee to make sure training meets the needs of the labour market to reduce reliance on overseas workers.
  • Devolve adult skills funding to combined authorities.
  • Transform Further Education Colleges into specialist Technical Excellence Colleges.
  • Reform the Apprenticeship Levy into a Growth and Skills Levy.
  • Launch Homebuilding Skills Hubs and accelerated apprenticeships.

Staying in Contact

Thank you for answering the questions above. Would you be willing to be contacted by our Senior Researcher, Josh Nicholson, to discuss your answers further?(Required)
Are you happy to be quoted directly in CSJ publications (quotes may include your name and organisation)?(Required)

Sign up to the CSJ mailing list to receive our regular newsletter,
the latest reports, and be the first to hear about our upcoming events.