Low wages hobbling building

Perceptions of construction as a career are improving, but low starting wages is the biggest barrier to young people taking up apprenticeships, a report out today says.

There has been a near-15 per cent rise in young people considering a job in the sector (to 62 per cent) and an 8 per cent increase in women considering it, the report from housebuilding major Redrow indicates.

Building better apprenticeships: Delivering skills to drive UK productivity, says 19 per cent fewer young people now believe that the industry is “dominated by men”.

In 2017, Redrow canvassed a total of 2,000 parents and 15-21 year olds, as well as 167 of its own apprentices, and benchmarked the findings against the response in 2016.

Karen Jones, the construction giant’s human resources director, said the second annual research report showed that “apprenticeships and careers in construction are being viewed in a more positive light”.

However, Jones added: “Low wages was referenced as the biggest barrier to entry into an apprenticeship with 42 per cent of young people saying that an increase in first year wages would incentivise them into the system.”

More than one in ten parents (12 per cent) said that loss of family benefits when their child starts an apprenticeship (including cuts to child benefit) were also a problem.