We need to start showing people what they can achieve through a career in the construction industry.


A number of documentaries have recently demonstrated what life in the construction industry can be like including the current Fifteen Billion Pound Railway. This programme looks at the construction of London’s Crossrail development and construction and clearly demonstrates how fantastic a career in the construction industry can be.

There is an argument to say people in the construction industry need to earn more, ultimately if it’s a fulfilling career and we’re paying people in the industry the right amount then we wouldn’t be facing the kind of skills shortages we are at the moment.


This also has something to do with perception, with people viewing construction industry workers as being low paid, low educated, unskilled whilst working in dangerous conditions. In fact that’s not an accurate reflection of the construction industry which has rapidly become high-skilled, safety conscious with increasing levels of pay (and certainly not low pay).


We sell construction products to tradespeople every day and we’re constantly hearing about the problems our customers are facing in trying to get and keep the staff.


It’s not just the tradespeople either. It’s the management that also needs to be attracted into the industry. We could start by shouting about the amount of money people can earn in the industry, with the average senior manager of small construction companies earning proportionately more than they would in other sectors and where some managers of construction companies can easily get six-figure salaries. That's suerly going to be an attractive and realistic option when kids are looking at careers and thinking about careers by to make it as a footballer or actor or signer - or high earning careers like finance.

 

And it's not just those white collar workers who are earning the top salaries, we all know how lucrative our industry can be but we don't shout about it enough.


It’s up to all of us as members of the construction industry to make sure we’re getting the message out there. This is an industry people can be proud of, and an industry that youngsters should aspire to be a part of. Paying decent wages is a starting point as that’s what’s going to attract the most attention however if every company out there becomes an evangelist for the construction industry we can surely sort out this skills shortage without help from the government or trade bodies who’s campaigns can sometimes come across as a bit patronising.