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Call for industry leaders to help change the perception of jobs in construction
New YouGov research shows 68% of UK adults would not consider a career in construction, with some viewing the industry as ‘dirty’, ‘strenuous’ and ‘boring’.
The Construction Deconstructed report, commissioned by not-for-profit organisation Deconstruction, shows that 60% of men would not consider a career in the industry, with the figure rising to 76% for women.
The research, taken from a sample of 2,083 nationally representative respondents, aims to highlight the recruitment and retention challenges facing the industry.
Comparing this year’s findings to the data from 2023, Deconstruction founder Ryan Jones said the construction industry faces a paradox that needs a new approach.
| Words associated with construction | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
| Forward thinking | 11% | 12% | +1 |
| Unsafe | 25% | 26% | +1 |
| Dirty | 52% | 52% | No change |
| Boring | 10% | 10% | No change |
| Stressful | 24% | 24% | No change |
| Strenuous | 70% | 69% | -1 |
| Rewarding | 29% | 28% | -1 |
| Intellectually stimulating | 8% | 10% | +2 |
Public perception
“The 2023 and 2024 Deconstruction research shows that the UK general public knows the country needs investment in new housing, schools, hospitals, and major infrastructure – all projects that are delivered by the construction industry,” commented Jones.
“Our 2024 report, Construction Deconstructed, shows that there has been no movement in the figures on that.
“However, attitudes to actively working in the sector, or what the general public think that working in the sector entails, shows we have to take a different approach to win hearts and minds to prove that the sector can provide a rewarding career for a wide range of people.”
This year’s respondents stated that they would be more likely to recommend working in construction:
- If it was a career that paid more (22%)
- If it offered more high skill roles (19%)
- If construction was a more welcoming place for people of different physical abilities, races or genders (17%)
Call for action
As part of the report, Deconstruction has set out recommendations that call for industry leaders to take action to change perceptions of construction, ultimately helping to attract and retain more talent.
Jones added: “My rally cry is to not give up hope. Every challenge uncovered in this year’s research can be overcome, but first we need to be ‘market oriented’ and understand what our audience thinks of construction.
“In many cases what the general public think of construction is inaccurate, which means we have a straightforward job to turn these things around, but we must act.”
