The number of 16 to 19-year-olds who are working in the building trade has more than halved in three years, according to research by ConstructionSkills.
The Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry said the sector is facing a retirement timebomb with around one in six workers due to retire within 10 years.
The number of older workers aged 55 years and over in the industry has increased by 65% since 1990, while those aged 24 and under has fallen by more than 40% over the same period.
Graeme Ogilvy of ConstructionSkills said, “We are working hard to attract new blood into the industry because if we don’t act now this retirement timebomb could compromise our ability to benefit from the upturn in the economy when it comes.
“In 1990, more than one in five (22%) of workers in the construction industry was aged 24 and under, but today, little more than one in 10 of the sector’s workforce (12%) is within this age group.”
The trend has increased over the last 20 years and now affects professional trades such as architects, surveyors and engineers as much as trade occupations.
Mr Ogilvy added, “The risk is that the ageing workforce, coupled with a failure to train and attract sufficient people now, will result in a skills vacuum and manpower shortage in the future.”
He said ConstructionSkills is working with businesses to offer apprenticeships and training, and to promote the career opportunities available.