Scotland’s construction sector is facing a mounting crisis: nearly half of its apprentices are dropping out before qualifying. Amid urgent housing demand and looming net zero targets, industry leaders are warning that the skills pipeline is drying up.
At a closed-door roundtable in Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland, 13 leading voices from across construction, education, and workforce development gathered to dissect the problem—and propose solutions.
The figures are sobering. According to the British Association of Construction Heads (BACH), the UK’s dropout rate for construction apprentices now sits at 47%, with only 8,620 apprentices reaching the final End Point Assessment in 2022/23. Within two years of qualification, 17% of those who do complete leave the industry—nearly triple the rate in other sectors.
‘They Want the Big Job Before the Graft’
Chaired by Rachel Colgan, founding director of Building Relations, the event brought a candid tone to an increasingly systemic issue. Contributors cited low wages, long hours, and outdated perceptions of construction work among the reasons apprentices abandon the path.
“The younger generation is often looking for immediate reward,” said Mike Pratt, co-founder of InverTay Homes and Timber Engineering UK. “The industry demands hard graft upfront, but hospitality or retail offers quicker financial returns—and frankly, more flexibility.”
Others pointed to deeper cultural gaps. “Construction is seen as a ‘job,’ not a career,” said one participant, noting that school career guidance often skips over trade-based professions entirely.
Post-Covid Priorities and Unrealistic Expectations
The post-pandemic workforce shift has added a new dimension. Young workers increasingly prioritise work/life balance and flexible hours—qualities that traditional construction apprenticeships struggle to accommodate.
“Courses are too long, pay too low, and the expectations of wage growth often aren’t managed properly,” Pratt noted. “We’re losing them to industries that adapt faster to these modern expectations.”
A recent survey by Skills Development Scotland compounds the concern: only 8% of 16–18-year-olds would seriously consider a construction career, despite 75% having a positive view of the industry overall.
Building a New Path: Shorter Courses, Real Projects
Solutions proposed during the session varied but revolved around common themes: relevance, visibility, and belonging.
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Shorter, hands-on learning was favoured over rigid, traditional models.
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Real-world community projects were suggested to help apprentices understand their tangible impact.
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Progression roadmaps showing how entry-level roles can lead to higher technical or management positions were also advocated.
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Targeted outreach to underrepresented groups—such as care-experienced youth and girls—was viewed as critical to expanding the talent base.
Jocelyne Fleming, senior policy and public affairs officer for the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), emphasised the missed opportunity in early education.
“Nearly half of young people never hear about construction careers while still in school. That’s a systemic failure,” she said. “We need a national plan that identifies future skills needs, maps out how to meet them, and ensures we have the resources to retain talent.”
The Cost of Inaction: Labour Shortages and Delays
For many attendees, including housebuilders, educators, and training providers, the stakes are existential. Scotland’s aging construction workforce and the need to retrofit homes for energy efficiency is colliding with a weak apprentice pipeline.
“There are going to be massive labour shortages for the foreseeable future,” warned Pratt. “We cannot afford to be training people up only to watch them leave. We need radical change—now.”
The roundtable also explored net zero challenges, government policy, and how organisations like CITB and SDS can better align with industry needs. But the core message remained clear: to address dropout rates, the industry must become a place where young people see a future—not just a job.
From Crisis to Opportunity
Despite the grim numbers, there was no shortage of optimism.
“Scotland’s construction industry can be a world-class career destination,” Colgan said after the event. “But to get there, we must reshape how young people experience their first steps in the trade. They need to feel valued, supported, and proud of what they’re building—literally and figuratively.”
Attendees included representatives from CITB, Fife College, Kier Construction, Women in Property, BakerHicks, Allanwater Homes, the Federation of Master Builders Scotland, and Places for People, among others.
