Construction Skills Network forecasts 2018-2022 - Scotland

Over the forecast period construction output in Scotland is expected to remain stable, with ongoing falls in infrastructure activity mitigated by decent growth in the housing sectors and R&M.

Expansion in both public and private housing will be driven by the Scottish Government’s target to build 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021, the bulk of which will be public, but a significant proportion will be delivered by the private sector. There are several big long term housing developments on site or in the pipeline, particularly around the Aberdeen area, and these should help to drive decent growth in the private housing sector.

• Growth is expected to focus on the public housing sector at 3.9%
• Employment in Scotland is forecast to decline by an annual average of 0.7%
• The annual recruitment requirement for Scotland is 2,130

Download a summary of the Scotland CSN report (PDF 171 KB)

Download the full CSN report for Scotland (PDF 1.4 MB)

What does this mean for construction jobs?

This means that demand for some trades will be higher than others. The jobs most in demand over the next five years, in Scotland, are:

• Non construction professional, technical and IT staff - 420
• Civil engineers - 300
• Plumbers - 290
• Construction trades supervisors – 200
• Wood trades - 160

What’s CITB doing to bridge the skills gap?

We’re committed to helping construction employers deliver the pipeline of work faster, better and more efficiently. Using our evidence base on skills requirements, we will ensure employers can access the high quality training their workforce needs.

We will also help construction attract and retain new recruits. Go Construct is a web portal showcasing all of the great career opportunities available in our sector.

We are also improving our funding to employers, through a reformed grants scheme that invests in the most needed skills and makes it easier for companies of all sizes to access funding.

How can you benefit?

If you’re keen on building and want a fulfilling and financially rewarding career delivering some of the iconic projects in your area, visit Go Construct.

To find out how to access grants to train your workforce, visit CITB funding.