New research illustrates importance of EU workers in building the country’s homes with 1 in 5 from abroad
Post Brexit access to skilled labour essential if industry is to hit Government housing targets
Housebuilders in England are heavily reliant on foreign labour and will need continued access to skilled EU workers post Brexit to deliver the Government’s housing targets an extensive new census of the workforce shows.
The Home Builders Federation has carried out the survey of 37,167 workers on over a thousand (1090) of its members’ sites. It reveals:
- 19.7% of workers on house building sites across the country are ‘non UK’
- 56.3% of workers on London sites are from overseas
- Over 1 in 5 of workers in the SE are from overseas
- 17.9% of workers in the East of England and 10.5% in the SW are from overseas
- In Yorkshire/Humber just 1.8% are non UK; 5.9% in the NW
- 15% of bricklayers are non-UK workers (48.5% in London)
- Non UK workers tend to be younger with less as a % over 50
Official statistics suggest that 12.6% of general construction workers across the UK are foreign-born, of which 5.7% are from EU-accession countries. The census suggests the reliance of housebuilding on foreign workers is heavier than the wider construction industry. With housebuilding such a key priority for Government, the industry is calling on ministers to recognise the needs of house builders.
The census shows that reliance on foreign labour is the heaviest in the South East, where housing demand is acutest, and in-particular London where over half of workers are from abroad. With housing supply in the capital at its highest since the 1930s but still well short of what is needed, safeguarding and growing this workforce is of vital importance.
The census also shows the increasing risk the industry faces from an ageing workforce and how the potential reliance on EU workers will grow in the coming years. Whilst over 22% of UK passport holders working in the industry are over 50, only 10% of EU workers are in that age bracket. Around 70% from the EU are in the 20-39 age group compared to only around a half of those born in the UK.
The house building industry has increased output by 74% in the past four years and last year saw 217k additions to the housing stock. The industry has recruited and trained tens of thousands of UK based workers in recent years and is committed to totally reforming to its attraction and training regimes. But with Government setting a challenging target of 300k additional homes a year by 2025 industry capacity remains a huge challenge. As the industry looks to increase output HBF will be working with ministers and officials to ensure that existing capacity is not threatened while builders continue to work to attract the next generation of home builders into the industry.
The industry has provided the census to ministers and officials, as well as the Migration Advisory Committee and is asking Government to;
- Secure the status for existing employees as quickly as possible
- Ensure house building roles are represented in future immigration arrangements
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said; “The results of this census clearly demonstrate the reliance the industry currently has on non UK workers. Output is up a massive 74% in recent years but achieving the very challenging targets set by Government will require further big increases in workforce capacity. Whilst the industry is investing heavily in recruiting and training young people leaving our schools, colleges and universities, continued access to overseas workers is absolutely essential.”
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For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve Turner on 020 7960 1606 or 07919 307760. Steve.turner@hbf.co.uk
Notes to editors
- The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the representative body of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk
- The census was held over the course of five weeks between September and October 2017. Almost 40 of HBF’s house building members around the country took part. Responses were received from around 1,090 sites totalling 37,167 participants
