Is 2023 the year that you embark on a new career path?
For many of us, the new year offers the perfect time to evaluate where we’re currently at with work, and where we want to get to.
There are a number of things to weigh up when considering switching careers. Employment and progression opportunities, earning potential, job security and job satisfaction all play an essential role in making any decision when it comes to investing in your future career.
Retraining in a construction trade is a great way to tick all of the above boxes, with the sector offering attractive career prospects for a number of reasons.
Hands-on and varied day-to-day tasks
Obviously, the construction industry is primarily a hands-on career and is great for anyone who prefers a more physical working day and solving problems.
The day-to-day tasks tradespeople are expected to carry out often vary, too, meaning two consecutive days are nearly never the same. For example, a gas engineer might one day be servicing or repairing a traditional boiler, and the next be installing a new heating system.
Demand remains high
More than a quarter1 of the EU-born construction workforce has been lost due to the points-based immigration system, leaving a major gap in the UK workforce.
It comes as little surprise then, that businesses across the industry are looking to fill skills gaps, with the Construction Skills Network predicting an additional 266,000 workers being needed by 2026 in their latest industry outlook report2, released in June 2022. The report also finds that demand for qualified workers will be highest in the private housing, infrastructure and repair and maintenance sectors.
Starting your own business
Due to the ongoing demand in the construction industry, many tradespeople take advantage and go down the route of setting up their own business. For many, this is an obvious choice, offering greater flexibility in terms of work-life balance, the ability to choose your own clients and the chance to boost your earning potential, with self-employed tradespeople able to set their own rates.
Part-time and flexible training
For many, the time and money required to complete construction training will be the biggest hurdle. As skills shortages continue to be an issue in the construction industry the way in which we approach training has changed, making it more inclusive and accessible to all.
These days, a newcomer to the industry can complete a course that will have them trained up to the level required to start working in their desired sector on a part-time basis, with payments spread across instalments rather than a whole sum upfront.
Interested in switching to a career in construction but unsure where to start? The friendly team at Able Skills would be happy to advise. Drop by the training centre for a chat and we’d be happy to help you on your way. If you can’t make it, call us on 01322 280 202.
- Brexit EU-workforce shortage statistics taken from: https://www.fixfirm.com/blog/view/construction-in-2023-growth-barriers-and-key-talking-points
- CSN Industry Outlook Report: https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/construction-skills-network-csn