Reed Business School has shared new research that highlights the UK’s most future-proof careers, with construction roles featuring prominently in the rankings.
The Future Ready Index is the first UK study to cross-reference future-proof employment with skills shortages and entry-level hiring trends.
The rankings are assessed using a variety of factors, such as AI automation risk, job growth outlook, qualified worker shortage, and each industry’s entry pipeline.
The Future Ready Index also includes a ‘double jeopardy rating’. This spotlights occupations that need urgent attention as they are rated highly future-proof, listed on the government’s Skilled Worker visa list, and experiencing a decline in young people entering the profession.
Which construction roles are included in The Future Ready Index?
It will come as little surprise that three major construction roles feature within the top 20 of Reed’s most future-proof careers, and all three are deemed amongst the most in need of urgent attention.
In the cases of construction-related jobs, this is due to the positions scoring high on the future-proof rating, but the sectors failing to recruit adequate levels of new starters (particularly amongst under-19s) to meet demand.
Electrician (ranked 13th most future-proof career)
The Future Ready Index highlights electrical and electronics technicians as critical double jeopardy occupations, driven largely by a high resistance to automation, and green energy infrastructure spurring further growth in an already in-demand sector
Despite this, apprenticeship growth in this field is currently being led entirely by over-25s; apprenticeship enrollments amongst under-19s are declining, and the profession has been listed by the government on its Skilled Worker visa list.
Plumber (ranked 14th most future-proof career)
Plumbing follows immediately as the 14th most future-proof career. Similar to electrical, the trade is highly resistant to AI automation, and again is listed as a critical double jeopardy occupation, featuring on the Skilled Worker visa list (grouped with heating and ventilating installers and repairers).
Construction workers and site managers (ranked 19th most future-proof career)
While Reed’s research has found that construction apprenticeship enrollments have been rising, it also flags that completion rates and retention persist as major issues. To tackle this, employers must offer better support and improve how they communicate the benefits of a career in the trades.
Reed’s research is the latest to amplify an ongoing trend in construction. As the sector heads into what looks set to be an immensely busy period, demand for skilled workers remains high as the industry continues to wrestle with long-term workforce shortages.
Now, at a time when more and more people are looking for a career that is resilient to AI, there is a real opportunity for the industry to tap into an entirely new generation of talent, and to potentially take a vital step towards filling these skills gaps.