Teenagers would rather work in construction than fly planes, according to research.
BBC Bitesize polled more than 4,000 people aged between 13 and 16 for its annual careers report.
While almost one in 10 chose doctor as their dream role, engineer was the second choice and the building trade came in ninth.
This was just one place below footballer – and one above pilot.
Tim Balcon, chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), described the findings as “really positive”.
“A career in construction can be incredibly fulfilling,” he told Construction News. “Nothing beats the valuable skills to be learnt or the sense of accomplishment in seeing a project completed.
“And with over 180 different occupations and over 100 different apprenticeship roles, there are many options for those looking to join the industry, whatever their background or interests.”
Construction can be lucrative as well, said Balcon, with the typical worker in the industry earning more than £44,000, well above the UK average.
The CITB estimated last year that the UK construction industry required more than a quarter of a million new workers by 2028 to cope with expected demand.
Build UK chief executive Suzannah Nichol hailed the BBC survey as “good news”.
Speaking to CN, she added: “While the rhetoric seems to be that young people don’t want to join our industry, the numbers suggest otherwise as applications for apprenticeships significantly exceed the number of places available and only about 20 per cent of young people on a construction-related college course find a job in the industry.”
Build UK is running the Open Doors event in partnership with the CITB and the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. The event takes place on 17-22 March to get youngsters behind the scenes of construction projects.
“We know that young people are really interested in a career in construction and we have a record number of visitors going to events across the UK to see a wide range of workplaces in action,” said Nichol.
She called for further measures to capitalise on young people’s enthusiasm for the sector, including a clear pipeline of work and clarity on competence requirements for different roles.
The teenagers polled by the BBC said feeling good about their job was their number one priority, closely followed by happiness.
Financial reward came in joint third with a sense of helping people. Low stress levels and opportunities for leisure time were also referenced.
Asked what would motivate them to move employer, opportunities for training and development were deemed more important than taking the best salary on offer.
Almost half of young people polled wanted to go to university, with a quarter preferring apprenticeships.
More than eight in 10 teens were confident in landing their dream job.
Last month, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) surveyed 2,001 young people aged 16-24 and 2,000 parents aged 31 and above to assess perceptions of construction careers.
Its findings revealed that 65 per cent of young people hold a positive view of construction careers, and 79 per cent of parents are supportive of their child pursuing a career in the sector.
However, only 42 per cent of parents would actively recommend such a career to their child, the CIOB found.
It is calling for the introduction of a dedicated Built Environment GCSE to generate interest and showcase the diverse roles available in the sector. The CIOB survey found that 53 per cent of young people would be interested in studying such a subject.
David Barnes, CIOB head of policy and public affairs, said: “The construction industry offers a wealth of opportunities, yet too many young people simply aren’t being given the right information. We need better careers advice, more engagement in schools, and a shift in perception to ensure the next generation sees construction as an attractive and accessible career path.”
Construction’s appearance in the top 10 jobs coveted by teenagers stands in contrast to the views of those slightly older.
A YouGov survey in 2023 found that 77 per cent of full-time students aged between 18 and 24 would not contemplate working in the industry.
Heather Holbrook, partner at consultancy Thomas & Adamson, this month called for a broadening of perceptions about construction.
She said children and young adults she spoke to were “genuinely surprised and interested to hear about the many roles in the industry”.
“They want to know about careers like quantity surveying and project management, and how to get into them,” she added.
“Studies have suggested that children as young as seven are starting to make decisions about their future careers. But they can only do that if they understand the broad range of options available to them, how to get into each, and the realities of what those career choices entail.”
