Published this month, the ‘Surveying skills report – UK snapshot’, found that concerns span across several surveying disciplines and career pathways.

In the report, 62% of respondents in Scotland define skills shortages as critical or moderate, in comparison to 54% globally. 

This is the highest proportion of any nation or region in the UK, ahead of England at 50%, Wales at 49% and Northern Ireland at 47%.

The findings indicate issues that go beyond the immediate availability of qualified professionals. 

A total of 62% of respondents identified a lack of mid-career and experienced professionals as a key problem, ahead of a shortage of early-career entrants (55%). 

A further 42% mentioned retention issues. Building control experts, valuation specialists, quantity surveyors and project managers have all cited critical or moderate skills shortages in high numbers.

A total of 78% Scottish respondents said decreased capacity to meet demand was affecting their work, while 66% reported having limited time and resources available for the purpose of upskilling and training new staff.

Professor Norman McLennan FRICS, chair of the RICS Scotland Board, said: “The results across Scotland emphasise the severity of the skills gap that the surveying industry is currently experiencing and the urgency in which the sector must act. 

“With recent suspensions of surveying-related courses at universities in Scotland, there are pathway challenges for the next generation of surveyors that cannot be ignored, especially with over half of respondents in Scotland citing a lack of early-career entrants … as a key challenge of the shortage.”

McLennan added: “This raises important questions about the sustainability of the profession’s skills pipeline at a time when demand for specialist expertise is increasing.”

Neil Wotherspoon, TFT senior director in Scotland, and chair of the RICS Building Surveying and Building Control Professional Group, said: “The Skills Survey findings highlight a challenge that many of us working across Scotland’s built environment are seeing first-hand, and all of us need to engage with it.

“Schools and colleges do need greater awareness of the breadth of opportunities available within the built environment. 

“Too often, surveying remains a profession that many students have never encountered, despite offering rewarding careers that combine technical expertise, problem solving and the opportunity to shape places and communities.”

Wotherspoon added: “Through initiatives with organisations such as Class of Your Own, Scottish universities and RICS Matrics, we are working to build stronger, longer-term engagement with future surveyors. 

“That means moving beyond a single careers talk or school visit and instead creating sustained, hands-on opportunities that allow students to understand the value, variety and long-term prospects that built environment professions can offer.

“As an industry, we must show clear development pathways with meaningful support and progression if we want talented people to stay within the profession.”