Engineering and construction employers are struggling to attract workers to net zero roles, according to new research
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s (ECITB) career motivations study Inspiring Directions shows that renewables and other sectors linked to net zero lack appeal, particularly among young people and women.
The report provides a snapshot of what motivates career choices and perceptions of the engineering construction industry’s different sectors, including offshore and onshore wind, solar and hydrogen, as well as industries linked to the energy transition, such as carbon capture.
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Findings of the survey show workers and learners already in the engineering construction industry view the renewables sector much more positively than the general population, making it challenging to recruit new entrants from outside industry.
When asked whether they would consider a career in the renewables sector, 65% of engineering construction workers or learners said yes, but this figure fell to 22% for the wider population and only 17% for both 16 to 19-year-olds and women.
Recruitment and retention challenges
ECITB chief executive Andrew Hockey said: “Our Labour Forecasting Tool forecasts an 84% increase in demand for workers in the renewables sector by 2030 amid a boom in project activity.
“With 25,000 extra skilled workers needed in this period, including 16,000 in offshore wind, understanding the career motivations of new entrants is paramount to ensuring workforce needs are met.
“This vital study suggests more needs to be done to make net zero careers attractive to new entrants, especially young people and women, and to address recruitment and retention challenges.”
Hockey added: “Our report makes recommendations on how the sector can better represent itself to disconnected new entrants and help retain its current workforce.
“As the employer-led skills body for the industry in Great Britain, training and developing new entrants is a key priority of our Leading Industry Learning Strategy, which is why half of our training grant budget is dedicated to this area.
“But solving the recruitment problem will require a collaborative, multi-agency approach that includes employers, governments, training providers and the ECITB working together to ensure careers in the industry are visible and more attractive.”
