As projected construction output figures build a renewed sense of cautious positivity, question marks remain over the current workforce — which is already heavily impacted by significant skills shortages — and how it is expected to meet such demand. 

While these workforce shortages continue to cause headaches for construction bosses, it does mean that tradespeople who possess these sought-after skills could find themselves in a strong position in terms of job prospects. 

This rings particularly true for bricklayers, who, in the wake of Labour’s ambitious home building plans — which include the construction of 1.5 million new homes and a refreshed social housing plan — are likely to encounter a busy few years ahead. 

Bricklaying amongst the most in-demand trades for 2025

While skills shortages are being felt across all trades, with City & Guilds finding that 76% of construction firms are struggling to recruit the talent they need, bricklaying is a sector that experts have regularly singled out. 

In a recent blog, recruitment firm Approach Personnel highlighted that bricklayers were proving to be the hardest vacancies to fill, ahead of groundworkers, steel fixers, carpenters and machine operators. 

This demand is likely down to a number of factors, ranging from an ageing workforce (Placesforpeople anticipate that more than one-third of construction workers are set to retire by 2035), a lack of new entrants and apprentices, gaps left in the workforce following Brexit and surging homebuilding activity. 

What upcoming projects could drive demand for bricklayers? 

Unsurprisingly, when Labour announced last October that it planned to build 1.5 million new homes within this current parliament, the natural assumption was that this would trigger major demand for bricklayers. 

More recently, Labour also revealed that it would be rolling out a new Social and Affordable Homes programme, which again includes a target of building 300,000 brand-new social and affordable homes by 2036.  

Glenigan has also predicted a return to growth for the industrial construction sector, largely driven by increased demand for logistics space brought about by rising consumer spending with online retailers and third-party carriers. 

Elsewhere, a long-term framework for investment into the road and rail network, which was laid out in the latest spending review, could also be good news for bricklaying opportunities, as could construction activity in both the education and healthcare sectors. 

While demand for bricklayers is hardly a new trend within the construction industry, a series of new and ambitious projects paired with the sizable workforce gaps that already exist may well translate to enticing job prospects and progression opportunities for bricklayers, as the industry seemingly approaches an incredibly busy, potentially lucrative period.  

Considering a career in bricklaying? If you’re completely new to the trade, you could be prepared to start your job search in as little as eight weeks. Find out how with Able Skills.