The Most In-Demand Construction Roles This Year (Backed by Data)
The UK construction industry is hiring, and in some areas, desperately so. While broader labour market challenges dominate headlines, construction has its own distinct story: robust demand for specific roles combined with a shrinking workforce and persistent skills shortages.
A recent UK industry outlook found that the sector will need an additional 47,860 workers every year from 2025 to 2029 just to keep up with demand. That’s nearly 240,000 extra workers needed by 2029, spread across multiple occupations from site-based roles to technical and professional positions. Here’s a closer look at the construction roles most in demand this year, supported by the latest market data.
The most acute shortages are in skilled trades. According to recent vacancy estimates:
Plumbers & Heating Engineers: 59,000 shortage
General Labourers: 41,500 shortage
Electricians: 9,365 shortage
Carpenters & Joiners: 8,656 shortage combined
These shortages reflect the realities of housing demand, retrofit programmes and energy infrastructure work, all of which rely on trade skills that aren’t being replaced quickly enough. All of these roles consistently feature among the highest advertised vacancies across the UK construction market.
As major infrastructure, utilities and water programmes scale up, demand for civils and groundwork roles has grown substantially. CITB workforce forecasts show that output in infrastructure sectors is set to grow faster than the wider industry average into the late 2020s, meaning more demand for skilled labour on civils programmes.
Groundworkers and civils operatives, including plant operators, are now essential on virtually every major project, and employers report sustained recruitment pressure in these roles.
Management roles remain hard to fill.
Data from industry sources shows Site Managers and Construction Managers are among the top roles where employers struggle to find experienced candidates. In survey job data, Site Managers and Project Managers are consistently listed among the top in-demand construction professionals.
These roles are harder to automate or replace and require combinations of technical knowledge, coordination skills and on-site leadership, making them both valuable and scarce.
Project Management and Planning expertise are in high demand, especially for complex programmes where precise sequencing and cost control are critical. According to recent market analysis, project managers, senior project managers, planners and estimators regularly rank in the top 10 advertised construction job roles by demand. These roles continue to see strong hiring activity as clients and contractors seek tighter control over delivery and programme risk.
Why does this demand exist? Several market forces are converging:
- The UK construction workforce needs around 47,860 extra workers each year to keep pace with forecast demand between 2025–29.
- A significant portion of the workforce is aging, with many roles experiencing retirements faster than replacements entering.
- Current vacancy levels in the sector are persistently high, with tens of thousands of unfilled jobs slowing project delivery.
- Core trades and specialist roles show the largest gaps between demand and supply, especially in plumbers, builders, electricians and civil skills.
Despite wider UK employment figures showing mixed trends, construction remains one of the few sectors where employers are struggling to find candidates with the right skills and experience.
What This Means for Employers and Candidates
For employers, the big takeaway is that competition for talent is intensifying across almost every occupational group in construction.
The companies who succeed in hiring this year will be those who:
- Invest in proactive workforce planning
- Offer compelling career progression and training pathways
- Partner with recruiters specialising in construction sectors
For candidates, strong demand means opportunity and bargaining power, especially in trades, management and technical roles where skills shortages are most acute.
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Speak to our specialist recruitment team today about current opportunities or how to strengthen your hiring strategy in this competitive market.