A study, commissioned by Trade Direct Insurance1, found that more than a third (35%) of 14-18 year olds are either considering (24%) or actively seeking (11%) a career in construction or the trades, as they await their exam results or prepare for future studies.
But relatively few are taking the next step. When asked what path they’re planning to take after their current studies, only 4% named technical education, such as construction or trade college, and just 15% said they’d pursue an apprenticeship. The vast majority are instead defaulting to further or higher education.
The focus on pushing young people towards university education is clearly causing its own problems, as the UK is facing a major crisis of youth unemployment. Recent reports have highlighted that around a million young people are now classed as NEET2 (not in education, employment or training), and graduate vacancies have dropped by half3.
This comes as the construction and trades sector grapples with a significant skills shortage. According to the CITB’s Construction Skills Network report4, the UK will require an additional 41,200 construction workers every year until 2030 in order to meet demand. Actively recruiting and supporting young men and women into vocational pathways presents the trades industry with a clear solution to helping bridge this shortfall, and failure to adequately address the shortage could result in significant problems for the sector in the near future.
The study shows that AI is emerging as an important factor in young people’s career choices. More than a quarter (28%) of youths said they want a career in an industry that isn’t threatened by AI, while 24% said they want a career where they can use their hands and 31% said they want a job that keeps them active rather than deskbound. This indicates a strong base of potentially interested future tradespeople, who are attracted to many of the perks that a career on the tools can offer.
That interest is sometimes handicapped by the school system, however, and isn’t always matched by the careers advice young people receive, with 16% stating they weren’t taught enough about the trades or construction as a career option at school or college. Among those who previously considered a trades career but have now ruled it out, the top reasons were a lack of interest (34%) and concerns about physical demands (20%).
Additionally, nearly a fifth (18%) said they had concerns about the earning potential of a career in trade. This is despite the fact that experienced employed professionals in many trades can earn upwards of £40,000 per year, with self employed tradespeople often earning significantly more, including six figure salaries5.
Interest among young women is still lagging behind, but shows potential
Over a quarter (26%) of young women say they considered a career in the trades, suggesting notable potential interest in a trade career that could significantly increase the number of female workers in the industry. However, this still lags behind the interest that young men have, where nearly half (46%) are interested in the sector. Girls are also more than twice as likely to cite the industry’s existing reputation, for example as male-dominated or a “fall back” career, as a barrier (16% vs. 10% of males).
Commenting on the findings, Patricia Gardiner, director of sales and marketing at Trade Direct Insurance, said: “While young men currently lead interest in trade careers, seeing over a quarter of young women actively considering this path reveals a real untapped opportunity. If we dismantle outdated industry stereotypes, we can change perceptions of the industry, and unlock an entirely new workforce segment to help tackle the national skills crisis. Expanding the female workforce will be an essential component to ensure that the skills shortage does not continue to escalate.”
GCSE’s emerge as a window of opportunity
The study shows that interest dramatically falls off after GCSE age. More than two fifths (42%) of 14-16 year olds are considering or actively pursuing a trades career, compared to just 26% of 17-18 year olds, a drop of 38%. Meanwhile, the share who say they used to consider it but no longer do climbs from 17% to 24% over the same age range, suggesting that schools and industry are missing an opportunity to engage young people about trade careers before that interest fades.
Patricia adds: “It’s clear that by the time students are studying their A Levels, the window of opportunity to attract them to the trades is likely closed. To avoid missed potential, it’s essential that we do more to help young people discover the opportunities that a career in trade can offer, and give them the information they need to make an informed choice. The Government’s recent announcement to increase technical education after the age of 14 could therefore become a huge bonus for the sector.”
Patricia concludes: “It’s genuinely encouraging to see that more than half of today’s teenagers have thought about a career in construction or the trades. What’s particularly interesting is what is drawing them to these careers – hands-on work, staying active and the prospect of a career that AI can’t easily replace.
“The challenge is turning that initial interest into action. Right now, only 4% are planning to study a trade next year, compared with 35% who are actively considering or seeking one out. If we want to close the skills gap the industry is facing, we need to reach young people earlier and make the routes into these careers clearer, whether that’s through technical education, apprenticeships or other qualifications. We also need to dismantle the stereotypes about the industry, and make school leavers aware of the financial benefits and perks that a career in trade can offer.
“At the heart of that disconnect is a persistent advice gap in our schools. For too long, traditional university routes have been promoted as the default measure of success, while trade pathways are often left as an afterthought. Young people aren’t rejecting vocational careers, they’re simply not being shown the front door, or given the support to navigate entry-level apprenticeships. Closing this guidance gap in classrooms is the single biggest opportunity we have to convert ambition into a thriving workforce.
“We have the opportunity to solve two major crises facing the country through one change to the education system. Young people leaving education are finding that the job market is barren and oversubscribed, but one area that has plenty of capacity and opportunity is the construction and trade sector. If the Government succeeds in its pledge to offer technical routes into employment as an alternative to academia, we could see huge amounts of young people choosing to explore their interest, which could help to revitalise the industry and take pressure off an already strained job market.”
https://www.tradedirectinsurance.co.uk/
Sources
- Survey of 500 UK-based youths aged 14-18, conducted for Trade Direct Insurance by 3Gem (31st July- 5th August 2026)
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/28/a-record-of-failure-whats-in-the-first-part-of-alan-milburns-neet-report
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crerd8l3pw5o
- https://www.citb.co.uk/cwo/index.html
- https://intrflex.com/blogs/what-trade-makes-the-most-money-uk
