Warning issued to government over building 1.5 million homes pledge
The stumbling block government could face over 1.5 million homes policy
- The Labour government's pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029 is jeopardised by a critical shortage of skilled construction workers.
- A survey by City & Guilds found that 76 per cent of construction firms are struggling to recruit skilled personnel, with 84 per cent agreeing the industry faces critical skills shortages.
- The Construction Industry Training Board estimates the sector needs an additional 239,300 workers by 2029 to meet the projected housing demand.
- More than half of employers, 54 per cent, express significant doubts about the sector's current workforce capacity to achieve both the housing target and net-zero housing goals.
- Industry leaders are calling for an urgent reset in how talent is attracted, trained, and upskilled across the construction sector, emphasising collaboration between industry, education, and government.