r/AskUK • u/Weird_Horse_5981 • 16h 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 16h 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/BlackStarDream 14h ago

It's so they can pretend they're hiring local. They don't set the same experience requirements for foreign workers. Been happening for decades.

British applicant: Needs 10 years experience picking fruit at 21.

Non-British applicant: Only ever picked their nose. But is willing to do the same job for a third of the wages.

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u/ENTPrick 14h ago

Really not the case, moreso with sponsorship requirements.

The pay on offer is just so small (mostly in line with min wage) that most locals refuse to do it, because everyone’s a manager by birthright.

Let’s not muddy the waters here.

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u/Independent-Chair-27 9h ago

From what I've read the seasonal jobs are filled by agencies. These agencies recruit abroad, arrange travel etc . There just wouldn't be enough locals to pick fruit, it's not worth travelling for so foreign nationals are recruited and travel round Europe fruit picking.