"Securing Future Workforce in Construction Industry, Must Watch UK's 'Industrial Technology Strategy' Achievements"

There is an opinion that it is necessary to closely monitor the outcomes of the UK's ongoing 'Industry Skills Plan 2021~2025' related to securing talent in the construction industry.

Managers are conducting safety inspections at an apartment construction site. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

According to the Construction Trend Briefing (No. 933) recently published by the Korea Construction Industry Research Institute on the 26th, despite the decline in the construction industry's growth this year, the UK is predicted to need an additional 225,000 construction workers over the next five years (2023?2027).

Following its departure from the European Union (EU), the UK is facing concerns over a reduction in foreign workers across industries, leading to labor shortages, recruitment difficulties, and weakening growth momentum. In response, securing competent personnel has become a key task, and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is implementing the Industry Skills Plan.

The CLC is a public-private partnership established in 2013 to effectively promote the UK's long-term construction industry strategy, Construction 2025. It plays a role in setting concrete implementation plans for the industry's development strategy and encouraging cooperation between the industry and the government. The long-term strategy presents five visions, one of which is 'People,' and the Industry Skills Plan was established with the goal of workforce expansion.

This plan focuses on construction culture, entry routes into the construction industry, capabilities, and future technologies. It aims to build diverse entry pathways to attract young workers, provide high-level education to enhance skills and develop competitive career paths, and seek transformation into a more desirable industry to work in.

Based on this plan, the UK construction sector is actively conducting training to improve work culture, recruiting apprentices, and offering job experience opportunities. Recently, a platform linking youth with construction industry jobs has been established, enabling collaboration among the industry, government, and educational institutions to facilitate entry into the construction industry through vocational education programs.

The Korea Construction Industry Research Institute evaluated that unlike many previous plans in the construction industry that often remained mere slogans, this plan is steadily accumulating achievements. In particular, they analyzed that execution capability has increased through performance reviews, replanning, setting quantitative goals, and encouraging industry participation.

Seong Yu-gyeong, a research fellow at the institute, said, "Although it is a mid-term plan spanning five years, annual performance is reviewed, and specific plans are reported each year. Goals are also presented quantitatively to enhance execution capability." He added, "'A 20% increase in employer participation in industry initiatives and programs by 2023' and 'Provision of five future technology competency pathways by 2025' are representative examples."

He continued, "Recognizing the importance of change through advanced technology, 'Research on Future Technologies in the Construction Industry' is being conducted proactively. Education and career development measures necessary to secure smart construction technologies and net zero technologies are also being prepared, with overall interest and cooperation from stakeholders serving as the foundation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.