Attract younger employees with flexible working, CIOB survey shows 

New insights into how young people and parents view careers in the construction industry have been released by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Surveys of 2,000 16 to 24-year-olds and 2,000 parents of young people in that age range were carried out for CIOB in February 2025, which explored perceptions of the industry as well as what influences careers choices.

According to the report, Attitudes Towards Construction Careers, flexible working (49%), a good benefits package (42%), and career development funded by the employer (27%) are the top three priorities for young people when considering applying for a job.

The survey showed parents, friends and people they know working in the sector were the top three influences on young people’s perceptions of working in construction, while family, friends and social media have the biggest influences on their career choices more generally.

Presented with a list of fields of work, the top three selected by the 2,000 young people were digital and technology, project management, and health and safety. 

The parents surveyed would most like their children to work in computing and technology, business and finance, and construction.

As the third most preferred option, construction ranked higher than healthcare, education, legal, creative and media, sport and leisure, armed forces, manufacturing, transport, tourism, retail, and beauty.

Two thirds (65%) of young people surveyed hold a positive view of construction careers, while more than three quarters (79%) of parents are supportive of their child pursuing a career in the sector. Just under half (42%) said they would recommend a career in construction to their child. 

However, both surveys highlighted persistent perceptions of poor workplace culture, male dominance and construction not being a respected career.

According to the young people surveyed, reasons for not wanting to work in construction are largely because it is viewed as ‘male dominated’, ‘physical work’ and ‘unsafe’.

David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs at CIOB, said: “Offering and promoting the things we know matter to [young people], such as flexible working, development opportunities and employee benefits, wherever possible could all help attract more to consider the sector as a career option.

"It’s also important the industry works to overcome some of the negative perceptions around diversity, physical labour and safety, as these are seemingly putting some young people off.

“Our survey highlights how roles spanning data and technology, project management and health and safety all appeal to young people. Construction offers roles in all three areas, but we need to do more to sell these and dispel myths that all jobs are trade based or working on building sites.” 

Barnes added that young people are heavily influenced by social media, so the industry, including employers, must keep pace with that.

“Here at CIOB, we’ve recently launched our own TikTok channel to reach a younger audience, for example,” he said.

“Parents are also influential, and a high percentage hold construction careers in high regard, while many say they’d prefer their children to earn while they learn instead of going to university, something which the construction industry can offer.

“It’s now time to make the most of the changes in attitudes we’re seeing and convert that positivity into more young people opting to join what those of us already in the sector know to be an exciting, fairly paid industry with amazing opportunities to learn and develop in a hugely rewarding career.”