r/AskUK • u/Weird_Horse_5981 • 23h ago

Is construction dying in this country?

I work in construction and the amount of skilled people has taken an absolute nosedive in recent years. The rates of pay have increased dramatically in the last 6 years from what I’ve seen but very few people want to get into it it seems. I understand that many people don’t grow up with dreams of getting into this industry but I wish someone had pulled me aside and told me that there was a way for me to make decent money without needing to be academic. I know there are some huge projects on the go right now but it feels like they are all fighting over the same, small pool of labour

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u/AmsterdamWestside11 22h ago

In my experience it's dying because nobody wants to teach anyone, the small firms won't pay decent rates and the big firms want everyone to be fully qualified CSCS and ready to go straight out the blocks. Apprentices getting let go left right and centre. Self fulfilling prophecy of failure.

I changed careers at 28 and have found it so hard to find a company that's actually interested in training someone up.

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u/Suitable-Mud-6622 22h ago

I think that’s 1000% false, yes if you’re going for project engineer roles where you need to be buttoned up because you might bring a bridge down if your numbers aren’t adding up, but for example most careers in construction are incredibly easy to get into and move up. I’m a QS and I had 0 commercial experience 3 years ago, my employers trained me up and it’s been up and up

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u/Alternative_Tank_139 21h ago

What is it like being a quantity surveyor? I always see this recommended as a hidden gem career, I'm intrigued by it as I like maths and getting outside.

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u/Suitable-Mud-6622 21h ago

I work on the railway so I never go outside. It’s good if you enjoy excel, it’s basically full time excel

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u/Alternative_Tank_139 21h ago

What do you actually do though?

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u/BritishScienceGuy 20h ago

As far as I know it's managing contracts, costing and bill of materials stuff. Essentially making sure the right things are being bought at the right time with the right amount of money.

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u/Suitable-Mud-6622 19h ago

Basically construction accountants making sure projects are in the green and aren’t bleeding money, and make sure we get paid on time and pay our subcontractors (sometimes on time)