A new report published by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) says that almost  6500 more civil engineers will be needed by 2020 to meet infrastructure construction growth, with over 230,000 new construction jobs to be created in total across the UK by 2020.

The CITB’s  latest Construction Skills Network report for 2016-2020 is calling for more apprenticeships in response to its 2.5% annual growth forecast for the next five years .

Steve Radley, Director of Policy at the Construction Industry Training Board, said:

“We can’t build the Britain we want without growing apprenticeships – and the careers they lead onto. That’s why it is vital that these new statistics, showing solid, sustained growth, inspire more people join the construction industry.”

“We also want to attract workers who have left the industry to return, and upskill those currently in the sector, so we can deliver major projects and new housing faster and better.”

The report, the industry’s most comprehensive and up-to-date,  is predicting growth in every nation and region in the UK.

Annual growth is predicted in all the UK’s regions and nations up to 2020, with Wales faring best with year-on-year growth of 7.1%, followed by the South West (4.4%), London (3.5%), and the North West (2.6%).

UK construction growth is set to be fourth in Europe up to 2017, with British builders outstripping those in Germany, France and Spain.

The overall annual UK average increase of 2.5% will be driven by the infrastructure and private housing sectors, according to the CITB.

However, the report is warning that with growth returning across the country and over 230,000 jobs expected to be created over the next five years, demand for construction workers is high and skills shortages are emerging.

Working with industry we’ve launched Go Construct, a new web portal showcasing all of the great career opportunities available in our sector.

Commenting on infrastructure, the report says that after statistical differences have been allowed for, growth in 2015 is likely to have been around the 12% to 13% mark. This makes infrastructure the star performer, with a big bounce-back in sewerage and harbours work and ongoing growth in the electricity and roads sub-sectors.

As long as there is no further slippage on nuclear new build, infrastructure is expected to see the most robust growth of any sector over the forecast period, at around 6% a year on average.

On the water sector, the report says:

“Activity in the water and sewerage sub-sectors under Asset Management Programme 6 (AMP6), which runs from 2015 to 2020, should peak around 2017/18 if historical precedent is anything to go by, and the sub-sector will be further boosted by the start of work on Thames Tideway in the second half of this year. “

Other upcoming infrastructure projects flagged up in the report are new nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point, Somerset, where  main civils work is forecast to start early in 2017 and Wylfa, Anglesey in 2019 Work on  HS2 is expected to start IN 2018.

Steve Radley added:

“All types of training, and especially apprenticeships, will be vital to delivering this pipeline of work. This positive forecast should inspire more people to start apprenticeships, and more firms to take them on.”

In response to the ongoing skills challenge, the CITB is launching a series of new partnerships with local and regional training providers to make sure the right training takes place where it is needed most.

It is also continuing to work closely with the construction industry to further develop Go Construct, an industry-led web portal, to showcase the opportunities in the industry and encourage more people to join the sector.

Click here to download Construction Skills Network Forecasts 2016-2020