Labour Market Information about Construction
There are currently almost two and a quarter million people working in Construction in the UK.
It's a male dominated industry with a male to female split of 90:10 - so for every 9 males working in the industry there is only one female. This is very high when compared to the national average for all UK employment where there is a male to female split of 53:47.Only four per cent of employees work part-time.
Self-employment is a huge part of the construction sector with forty-two per cent of those working in the industry being self employed. This is high when compared to the national average of thirteen per cent of the workforce being self-employed.
The sector is made up of a wide range of employers including:
A large number of small construction companies -for example sole traders such as plumbers, painters and decorators, carpenters etc
Construction companies and consultancies
Local Authorities and public service organisations
Construction contractors
Utilities companies
Construction has taken a big hit in the current recession but there are predictions for a modest growth in construction over the next 5 to 10 years.* Public funded, or supported projects, such as building affordable or social housing, new transport infrastructures and new hospitals and schools already account for more than a quarter of construction. These projects have been less affected by the recession than private housing projects.
Find out more about LMI in:
Worcestershire
General Construction
Architecture, Surveying and Planning
Building Services
Civil and Structural Engineering
* Predictions based on the working futures report 2007 -2017 published by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in December 2008
