Young workers flood into construction as skills-card numbers surge

Britain’s construction industry is getting a much-needed injection of young talent, with nearly 100,000 under-25s gaining industry skills cards and strong growth in plumbing, electrics and plant operation. As housebuilding, infrastructure and green retrofitting drive demand, a new generation is discovering that construction offers skilled, technical and potentially rewarding long-term careers.

YOUNG PEOPLE TURN TO CONSTRUCTION FOR JOBS

The UK’s building sites are seeing an interesting phenomenon: the average age of workers, is beginning to fall as young talent joins up. New figures show there’s a surge in under‑25s signing up for industry skills cards. Construction is fast becoming one of the hottest career choices for the next generation looking for long term opportunities.

The CSCS Alliance says the number of cards issued to workers under 25 jumped 8.8% between 2023 and 2025, rocketing from 86,798 to 94,444. That’s nearly 100,000 young workers getting qualified and ready to build Britain’s future. The CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) is the UK’s main card scheme that proves workers on construction sites have the right training, qualifications and health & safety knowledge for the job they’re doing.

It’s not just labouring where the change is underway. Young workers are finding skilled roles, with growth hitting 9.6%, outpacing labouring jobs at 8.3%. The next generation isn’t just joining construction; they’re joining at a higher level.

PLANT OPERATIVES LEAD THE CHARGE

Some trades are seeing encouraging growth:

• Plant Operatives: up a massive 24.7%
• Electrotechnical: up 15.6%
• Temporary Traffic Management: up 13.2%
• Utilities: rising from 13.9% to 15.5% under‑25 share

In a standout stat, Plumbing and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) now has the highest proportion of young workers of any major skilled occupation, with 22.9% of all cards going to under‑25s. That’s nearly one in four new plumbers and HVAC specialists starting their careers before they hit 25.

CONSTRUCTION’S YOUTH REVIVAL

Under‑25s now make up 19% of all CSCS‑logoed cards, a major shift for an industry long worried about ageing workers and skills shortages.

The fresh influx of young talent is giving construction a much‑needed boost, with more trainees, more apprentices, and more young people choosing technical and advanced roles.

EXACTLY WHAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDS

With major infrastructure projects, green retrofitting, housebuilding and utilities expansion all crying out for skilled workers, the youth surge couldn’t come at a better time.

Construction needs to get its mojo back. Young people are beginning to understand that the old stereotypes no longer apply and there are high‑tech and highly skilled job opportunities for them in a sector with high‑demand. If this momentum keeps up, the industry might finally crack its long‑standing skills crisis.

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