**Housing Chief Calls for Urgent Funding Boost to Train Young Builders, Address Critical Worker Shortage**
A leading figure in the housing sector has called for a significant increase in government funding to support the recruitment and training of young people in construction, warning that a persistent shortage of skilled workers is hindering efforts to meet national demand.
Sarah Jenkins, CEO of Affordable Homes Now (AHN), highlighted recent analysis indicating the construction sector needs an additional 2,200 workers annually just to keep pace with current projects and future growth.
Speaking at a recent industry conference, Jenkins emphasized that this shortfall isn’t merely an economic challenge but a societal one, directly impacting the ability to deliver much-needed housing across the nation.
“Our industry is facing a demographic crunch,” Jenkins stated. “We have an aging workforce, and without a robust pipeline of young talent entering the trades, we simply won’t be able to build the homes, schools, and infrastructure our country desperately needs.”
She advocated for targeted government investment in apprenticeships, vocational training programmes, and initiatives that make construction a more attractive and accessible career path for school leavers and young adults. This funding, she argued, should not only cover training costs but also provide support for trainees, ensuring they have the resources to complete their programmes and transition into full-time employment.
“Imagine the impact,” Jenkins added, “if every young person leaving school knew that a rewarding, well-paid career in construction, complete with structured training, was readily available. We could tackle youth unemployment and the housing crisis simultaneously.”
Boosting the number of young people entering the trades would have a dual benefit: directly addressing the labour shortage and providing vital career opportunities at a time when youth unemployment remains a concern in many regions. A robust pipeline of skilled tradespeople – from bricklayers and carpenters to plumbers and electricians – is fundamental to achieving national housing targets and driving economic growth.
The call comes amidst ongoing concerns about the national housing crisis, with governments under pressure to accelerate building programmes. Without the workforce to execute these plans, however, progress will inevitably stall.
Jenkins concluded by urging policymakers to view investment in construction skills for young people not as an expenditure, but as a critical long-term investment in the nation’s infrastructure and its future prosperity. “The foundations we lay today in training our youth will determine the homes we build tomorrow,” she affirmed.
