Ian Hughes

There are big opportunities in both the present and future for the Scottish construction industry. Government targets to build 110,000 affordable new homes in Scotland following the pledge from the Scottish Government, plus plans to approve 150 major infrastructure projects by 2029 across the UK means the opportunities aren’t just on the horizon; they’re in the here and now. 

In its 2025-2026 Budget, the Scottish Government announced the development of thousands of new homes alongside the hundreds of millions of pounds to support homebuilding, and over £50 million to accelerate the cladding remediation programme. To help support increased industry demand, the Scottish Government has also committed over £2 billion in skills development programmes, including supporting approximately 40,000 apprentices to earn while they learn.

In light of the recent policy announcements, our Construction Workforce Outlook estimates that almost 4,000 extra workers will be needed in Scotland per year from 2025-2029. This means the construction industry in Scotland needs to recruit around 17,950 extra workers over the next five years. The report also shows that in this year alone, Scotland’s construction output is expected to rise by 1.7%, following expansion of 4.0% in 2024. Now more than ever in the Scottish construction industry, attracting and retaining talent is vital for its long-term success and resilience. 

As I heard recently at the CITB Skills and Training Conference in Perth, attracting and retaining talent in the construction industry is essential for addressing the skills shortages and maintaining high standards of quality and safety, but there are several challenges that are making it difficult to recruit and retain talent. 

Many workers feel there are few clear pathways for advancement, especially in trade roles, so it’s the industry’s job to demonstrate what the future looks like in this working environment. There is also a belief in a lack of training and development in the construction industry. Our newly launched Training Provider Network (TPN), a single network of approved, quality assured training providers across England, Scotland and Wales, provides a more integrated approach for CITB and employers to work closely with training providers and improve the accessibility and quality of training.

There are over 180 different occupations in construction and over 100 different construction apprenticeship roles that lead to careers in the industry for people at every stage of their career. Earlier this year, we launched Go Construct Careers, a free-to-use feature that offers support for job seekers at every stage of their journey, and offers employers streamlined support when it comes to recruitment. There’s also the New Entrant Support Team (NEST) which helped over 4,000 apprentices join the industry in 2024-2025 across GB and supports employers beyond just the recruitment phase. 

Last month’s conference told us yet again that employers in the construction industry ultimately need the confidence to hire, and this largely stems from pipeline certainty. This refers to having a clear and stable forecast of upcoming projects and workloads. Employers will then be more willing to invest in recruiting and retaining workers when there is confirmation and confidence in secured work for months and years ahead. Without the certainty, businesses may hesitate to expand, and this can then lead to under-resourcing, project delays and missed opportunities.

The outlook for the construction industry is positive, but we need collaboration between industry, Government and other stakeholders in order to build a stronger, more sustainable workforce. Investing in recruitment and retention today will ensure that the construction industry doesn’t only meet today’s challenges but excels for the future generations.

Set to take place on Wednesday, 17 September, at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre, the Scottish Construction Summit 2025 will bring high-calibre speakers, essential breakout sessions, and a buzzing exhibition floor to explore challenges and opportunities across four critical themes. Tickets cost £195 + VAT, with a small number still available, just days away from the big event.