Applications tumble for construction jobs: employers face unsettled start to year

Recruitment within the construction arena spiked considerably at the end of last year, however dwindling applicant numbers suggests that employers - that are already contending with skills shortages - may face further challenges accessing talent in the first quarter of 2023. That’s according to new research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the trade association for the professional recruitment sector.  

The data, provided by the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean Technology, revealed that while vacancies for construction roles were consistently higher throughout 2022 than the previous year, there was a significant jump in advertised jobs in December. There were 21,367 roles in the final month of 2022, constituting a staggering month-on-month rise of 121.4%.

While this huge rise in demand at the end of the year is indicative of a sector bolstering resources ahead of the New Year, application numbers fell considerably in December, down 53% month-on-month. A drop in applicants over the festive period is to be expected, but the fact that there was such an acute fall throughout the month is a worrying sign and employers will find it even more difficult to source talent in an industry that’s been hit hard by Brexit and skills shortages.

Elsewhere, the data reveals that while salaries across the sector were slightly higher in 2022 compared to the previous year, this increase was not in line with the rate of inflation. At a time when households are feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, employers may struggle to attract staff unless more is done to address remuneration packages.

Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo comments:

While 2022 saw general demand for construction experts up on 2021 figures, the sudden spike towards the end of the year suggests the sector is preparing for significant demand in the year ahead. The fall in application numbers at a time when demand is growing is a concern. Brexit did create a talent exodus in construction, leading to limited resources and more competition for the best professionals. However, with the number of active job seekers now falling, businesses and recruiters will face a tougher challenge to hire across the sector