Picture a puzzle with missing pieces – that’s how industries feel as they are forced to confront the skills crisis.
The truth is, the issue has been silently brewing for a while now, causing problems in many industries for years, but only now has its progression been catalysed not only by Brexit but also by the pandemic.
The construction industry is often in the spotlight regarding the skills crisis, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only industry missing its finishing pieces.
The Construction, Facilities, and Utilities bulk-age demographic (workforce aged between 45-55) has taken a massive plunge this year, with many experienced workers leaving the industries and opting either for early retirement or giving a chance at a different career.
Brexit’s shift in how things are transported and where they come from has changed how many businesses run. The pandemic caused a large portion of the population to rethink what they want to do for work, leaving many companies with less highly experienced workers to train the new workers.
This blog will look deeper into the skills crisis, how it’s affecting the construction industry and how My Training Passport can help bridge this draining skills gap.
Before we get into it, here’s the employment arithmetic:
- The UK has lost 3m EU workers since Brexit
- We have 8m fewer 15–24-year-olds (reduced birth rate 1997-2006)
- There are currently 1.3 million advertised jobs – 43,000 in construction
- Around 200,000 55–60-year-olds have retired early
- Supply has fallen by 3 million, and demand increased by 1.3 million
- There are5m unemployed
The role of training and development in addressing the skills crisis:
Investing in training and development is vital for any company if they wish to strengthen their workforce, overcome the skills crisis and keep up with constantly evolving industries. Now more than ever, since over 40% of skills that employees need to effectively perform in their jobs will change over the upcoming years.
Continuous learning and development opportunities can not only enhance employee retention and job satisfaction but protect your business from falling behind. Instead, you can foster a sense of growth in your company, attracting top talent whilst enriching your workforce.
As industries face the skills crisis, initiatives that support empowering through learning will be essential, enabling staff to stay agile, embrace emerging trends and adapt to what their industry needs.
Government initiatives and support:
Companies won’t be fighting the skills crisis alone, as the Government is putting initiatives in place to support them. The UK Government has recognised the struggle that industries have recently faced and has formed a vision to establish competitive cities in every region, fostering prosperity and driving the national economy forwards.
This vision is outlined by three pillars of growth: Infrastructure, skills and innovation.
Infrastructure: They’re set to invest £100 billion in broadband, roads, rail, and cities to stimulate both short-term activity and long-term productivity. Initiatives like the Levelling Up Fund and UK Infrastructure Bank aim to connect people, rejuvenate local areas and promote net zero emissions.
Skills: Giving priority to productivity, the Government will enhance skills through investments in education, including free Level 3 courses, skills boot camps and improved apprenticeship systems.
Innovation: Igniting economic growth, the Government will encourage innovation through easier access to finance, reforms for start-ups and scale-ups, regulatory adjustments and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to boost productivity.
Tips for employers and employees:
So, how can you contribute to mitigating the skills crisis?
- Improving the collection and visibility of project data: Understanding your data is the first step to retaining and managing your current workforce.
- Offer continuous professional development opportunities: Each member of your team merits the chance to enhance and cultivate their skills within the framework of your leadership. To position your team for success, equipping employees with valuable tools and resources for pursuing professional development is essential.
- Regularly communicate with your employees: Communication is key… it’s a known saying for a reason.
- Encourage a growth-oriented approach: By incorporating learning opportunities into your daily work routines, you foster a culture where team members are consistently motivated to strive for continuous improvement.
- Recognise the value of offering feedback: Every employee and employer can benefit from feedback and knowing whether they are performing well in a role. Knowing your weaknesses is a strength!
How using My Training Passport can help with the skills crisis:
By now, you know that we’re firm believers in the strategic use of data to overcome industry challenges. So why not apply the same principle to attempt to at least mitigate the labour crisis that industries such as construction, health and safety (and more) are facing?
Better understanding your workforce, their individual skill set and qualifications and improving the collection and visibility of project data is the first step towards retaining your current workforce successfully.
With My Training Passport, you can see all skills and qualifications in one place, meaning you can see what skills are lacking in your company.
Let’s face the skills crisis together, get in contact today: https://mytrainingpassport.net/contact/