New data from the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) suggests the profile of the UK construction workforce is changing, with more young people entering the industry and a growing share of workers operating at skilled levels.
According to CSCS cardholder data, more than one in four cards (25.16%) are now held by individuals under the age of 30.
That figure has increased significantly since 2021, when just 17% of CSCS cards were held by workers aged 20 to 29. The latest figures mark an eight-percentage-point rise in the proportion of younger cardholders over four years.
The data challenges a widely held perception that fewer young people are choosing careers in construction.
CSCS said one possible explanation could be changing career priorities among younger workers, with greater interest in practical, skills-based roles that offer clear progression and are less likely to be disrupted by automation.
At the same time, the data points to an increase in the number of skilled workers active on construction sites.
Analysis based on verified card scans through the CSCS Smart Check API shows a shift in the industry’s skills mix. In 2023, just 27% of scanned cards belonged to workers operating at skilled or advanced levels. By 2025, that share had increased to more than 39%.
Unlike traditional workforce surveys, Smart Check API data is drawn from real-time card scans on site, offering what CSCS describes as a more accurate snapshot of workforce composition.
Sean Kearns, Group Chief Executive of CSCS, said the technology allows the organisation to better understand how the workforce is evolving.
“At CSCS, we continue to align our technology with the evolving needs of the construction industry,” he said.
“Our digital tools provide unique insight into who is actually working on site and who is entering the industry, based on verified registration data.
“It is incredibly positive to see that more young people are choosing construction as a career. Now the focus must be on sustained upskilling across the industry, ensuring we develop a workforce that is adaptable, future-proof and ready to support long-term growth.”
Younger workers entering the sector say the variety of career paths is one of the industry’s strengths.
Rhianna Parker, a 22-year-old environmental advisor working in the Scottish Highlands, said construction offers opportunities that many young people may not initially be aware of.
“The construction industry offers so many opportunities for young people to progress and discover roles they may never have known existed,” she said.
“It’s also a career that’s built around real, hands-on skills that can’t be replaced by AI.
“While the industry is embracing new technology and greener ways of building, it still relies on people to make decisions, adapt on the ground and turn ideas into reality.”
She added that working in construction had allowed her to visit sites and locations she would otherwise never have experienced.
