astra domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/studyfoxx/public_html/proactivetraining.com.au/news/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131This new insight paper<\/a> from YouthSense looks at what might be stopping young people working in the construction industry. It draws on a survey of 305 15 to 24-year olds forming part of a free online course, which aims to teach young people about careers in the construction. This is what they found.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly 2% of Gen Zs said they know \u2018a great deal\u2019 and 5% \u2018a lot\u2019 or about careers in construction.\u201d The paper also reports that:<\/p>\n \u201cWhile 28% said they know a \u2018moderate amount\u2019, a whopping two thirds in total said they know a little (45%) or nothing (21%). So, in total not even a tenth of young people have any real idea about what\u2019s going on in the construction industry.\u201d<\/p>\n Moreover, three out of four Gen Zs they surveyed told them \u201cthey were unlikely (48%) or definitely not (27%) going to work in the construction industry, or that about 17% were \u2018neutral\u2019\u201d [and] \u201cjust 2% said they definitely want to work in construction, while 6% said they were likely to.\u201d So, not a big pool of \u2018definites\u2019 or \u2018probables\u2019 to draw from.<\/p>\n Several priorities seem to be in the mix: first the money (33%) and second, being outdoors and not stuck behind a desk (29%). Another motivator was the variety of day to day work (14%), while 10% said the industry offered the potential to start a business one day and \u201c7% said for its recognised skills to work overseas.\u201d However, 7% said none of the above were attractive about working in the industry.<\/p>\n The paper<\/a> reports that:<\/p>\n \u201cmore than half (51%) of Gen Zs [pointed to it] being physically demanding, 36% said it [was] too male dominated, 35% said [they had] sexism concerns, 22% said no flexibility, 21% said bullying concerns, 20% said working outdoors and it not being a desk job [this was also an attraction to others as noted above – and] 16% said status was a barrier for them.\u201d However, nearly a quarter (23%) said none of the above concerned them.<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that \u201cperceived sexism and being male dominated are both high on the list of barriers to working in construction, particularly for females.\u201d But this is not always necessarily the case, and some females find a path through to construction work as research by Jones and her colleagues found when looking at the electrical trades in 2017 (You can access that work here<\/a>). Indeed, the YouthSense paper reports that one 16-year old said:<\/p>\n \u201cMy boyfriend\u2019s father and mother own their own construction company and my boyfriend works for their company. They enjoy their jobs and take pride in it and it has motivated me to take on a passion in the construction industry,\u201d<\/p>\n So, it\u2019s that familiarity thing again, and this is what Jones and her colleagues found as well. Personal suitability and interest are factors too.<\/p>\n As one male respondent to the survey said:<\/p>\n \u201cAnother thing that may be a factor for me to not pick this career is that I\u2019m under the impression that this career isn\u2019t necessarily highly considered in status which isn\u2019t ideal if I want to tell my parents that I want to pursue this type of job.\u201d<\/p>\n An image and stereotype thing, perhaps?<\/p>\n On the other hand, classic trades in construction like bricklaying, carpentry, concreting, plumbing and plastering are in high demand and often well-paying (especially if you also throw \u2018sparkies\u2019 into the mix). Just look at the national skills shortage lists for apprenticeships<\/a>! While this list dates back to 2019 it\u2019s unlikely that things have changed too much since then in trades like bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, plasterers, gasfitters, glaziers, painters, plumbers, tilers and even stonemasons. What may also be overlooked are the professional and paraprofessional roles the industry offers, including architects, draft persons, construction managers, civil engineering technicians, contract administrators or even interior designers.<\/p>\n In summary, construction, like many vocational and trade occupations, needs a better \u2018sell job.\u2019 This needs to start at schools and with independent – and better – careers advice.<\/p>\nWhat would attract them?<\/h2>\n
What might turn them off construction courses then?<\/h2>\n
Demand versus status?<\/h2>\n