Career guidance practitioners’ attitudes to construction
23 Oct 2024
Tristram Hooley
Professor of Career Education, iCeGS, University of Derby
For the last few years, the Construction Industry Training Board has been undertaking research with careers practitioners to find out how they are engaging with the construction sector. In this blog we set out some of the main findings from last year and explore what the implications might be for careers practice.
The overall picture of careers practitioner’s attitudes to, and awareness of, the construction industry last year was strongly consistent with previous years findings. We would encourage all careers practitioners to get involved in this research by completing this year’s survey.
Research findings
Overall the findings from recent years are mainly positive for both careers practitioners and the construction industry (see the 2022 report). Careers practitioners report that they are well informed and positive about careers in construction. They also note that this general positivity extends to their student and clients. While they feel generally well informed, they would also like opportunities to know more and to extend their knowledge base.
Careers practitioners were asked to rate their own knowledge of the construction sector. In 2023 only 3% rated themselves as having very little knowledge (a score of 1-3/10), the majority (68%) rated them as having some knowledge (4-7/10) and 28% rated themselves as having a lot of knowledge (8-10/10). Information was drawn from a wide range of sources with government provided LMI, resources provided by the CITB and direct engagement with employers the most popular. The overwhelming majority (85%, up from 83% in 2022) of careers practitioners were confident in supporting their students and clients to explore the construction industry.
Career guidance practitioners reported that 68% of their students and clients viewed construction as an attractive career (up from 64% in 2022) and 19% reported that it was very attractive (up from 14% in 2022). Practitioners generally agree that construction is a good career which gives people access to a range of the features of decent work. The following chart sets out practitioners perceptions on a variety of features of work in the construction industry.
However, there were some concerns as to whether construction offered an inclusive workplace and whether it was too dependent on social capital to break into. The construction sector continues to be seen as being dominated by white, male workers in skilled trades. This makes it difficult for a range of groups to consider and access careers within the sector. This include women and people from ethnic minorities as well as SEND students, young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and academically high achieving students.
Implications for practice
These findings suggest a number of important implications for practice.
- It is important for all careers practitioners to be aware of the full range of opportunities available in the construction industry. The sector is much bigger than the skills trades roles that it is most usually associated with. There are opportunities to enter the sector in a range of roles and at a range of levels.
- Building relationships with construction employers is a critical element of practice. These relationships can be used to improve access to information, provide employer engagement opportunities and open up possibilities for work experience. Many practitioners in the survey viewed this as a challenging activity that they would need to reach out to the CITB and other intermediaries for help with.
- It is important to talk about both the positives and negatives of work in the construction industry and to challenge people on some of their assumptions.
- The concerns about the diversity and inclusiveness of the sector are also important to keep investigating and talking about with both client and employers.
Help us to find out more about your perceptions of the sector by completing this year’s survey.
Any views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Institute as a whole.
