Marking National Careers Week, CIOB has published the second edition of its Attitudes to Construction Careers report, which finds strong interest in the sector among young people and parents but too few going on to take up training places or jobs.

The institute wants a multi‑channel recruitment campaign, modelled on those used for the armed forces and teaching, led by Government with support from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and funded by industry bodies including CIOB to align existing outreach and reach wider audiences.

David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs at CIOB, said: "It is hugely concerning that 957,000 young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training. We believe a national campaign showcasing the exciting and rewarding careers available in construction would inspire some to join the sector, bringing down these shocking statistics and boosting the industry to deliver the much-needed new homes and infrastructure the Government has committed to.

"The construction sector is crying out for talented people and can offer opportunities in a vast range of roles including design, surveying, project management and sustainability alongside the frontline trades. Many roles now use AI and other innovative technology, and our survey of 2,000 young people shows these are strong areas of interest for them, while we also saw a strong preference towards health and safety careers from female respondents. Unfortunately, however too many people are unaware such jobs exist within construction and the misconception that all roles are physically demanding and involve lots of time working outdoors are sadly still rife."

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CIOB's polling by Opinion Matters of 2,000 16‑24‑year‑olds, first run in 2025 and repeated in February 2026, shows two thirds view construction careers positively (66% in 2026; 68% in 2025) but only around a third would consider working in the sector (30% in 2026; 31% in 2025). Almost half said construction was not covered in the careers advice they received at school or college (45% in 2026; 47% in 2025) and over a quarter do not believe the industry is accessible to young people (26% in 2026; 28% in 2025).

A companion survey of 2,001 UK parents of 16‑24‑year‑olds found strong backing for construction pathways, with more than three quarters supportive of their child entering the industry (75% in 2026; 79% in 2025). Many also favoured "earn while you learn" routes (42% in 2026; 43% in 2025), reflecting concerns about rising university costs and graduate job prospects.

Around a quarter of young respondents in 2026 were aware of Government initiatives launched over the past year, such as Homebuilding Skills Hubs and Construction Skills Bootcamps, but awareness among parents was lower. CIOB says this matters because its research indicates parents have the greatest influence over young people's career decisions and perceptions of construction.

Barnes continued: "We welcome the current Government's increased focus on scaling up recruitment in construction through the introduction of skills hubs and bootcamps. It is encouraging around a quarter of young people are aware of the schemes but that now needs to translate into uptake. This is where a campaign that also targets parents would be helpful, as awareness was much lower amongst them, and we know from the young people we surveyed that parents have a substantial influence on their career choices.

"With rising university fees parents are advocating for more earn while you learn opportunities and construction has lots to offer by way of apprenticeships and more. We regularly hear how those already in the industry get a strong sense of pride, legacy and community from the work they do and they enjoy the varied nature of an industry where no two days are the same, so we'd encourage anyone who is thinking about their future career to visit our CIOB Aspire website to find out about the range of roles available."

Josh Nicholson, Head of Housing and Communities, Centre for Social Justice, said: "This important report shows that young people are ready, willing and keen to work in construction. But more must be done to convert interest into opportunity. For years, we have pushed too many young people towards university, instead of investing in new apprenticeship and training opportunities.

"Alongside a major recruitment campaign, ministers must combat rising employment costs, and support construction employers to invest in the next generation of trade and professional construction workers. This is how we get Britain building, boost the economy and most importantly, change lives."

CITB's latest Construction Skills Network projections indicate the sector will need around 240,000 additional workers by 2029 simply to match growth and deliver the Government's built environment objectives.