More Young Women Consider Construction Careers But Cost-of-Living Crisis Risks Progress • More than 1 in 4 young women see construction as a possible career path • Almost 8 in 10 Lancashire parents (78%) have discussed apprenticeships with their child, and 16% are more likely to encourage them to do an apprenticeship than pre-pandemic • 60% of young people surveyed in Lancashire would consider an apprenticeship; while half (50%) said the Coronavirus pandemic has changed the factors that are most important to them in terms of choosing a career path • However, positive financial perceptions of pursuing an apprenticeship career route are at a four-year low, as the cost-of-living crisis bites
The research, launched during National Apprenticeship Week, reveals that whilst there has been clear progress in the number of young people considering apprenticeships, there are wideranging concerns around the financial benefits, with sentiment around pay prospects at their lowest level since 2019. Now in its sixth year, Redrow’s Apprenticeship Report analyses the barriers to entry-level recruitment into the construction and the housebuilding sectors, as well as recommendations to overcome these. Redrow canvassed 2,000 parents and young people, as well as 100 of its own apprentices, and benchmarked the findings against previous years. Whilst more young women are considering a career in construction this year, and parents are having more conversations about apprenticeships with their children, positive financial associations of apprenticeships are trending down. The proportion of young people nationally believing an apprenticeship brings greater financial independence at an earlier age (when compared to studying full time) has dropped from a high of 41% in 2019 to just 28% in 2022. Parents are now matching this apprehension, with 1 in 5 parents saying they would be concerned about their child’s career prospects upon finishing an apprenticeship. 100
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
Redrow is calling on the government and industry to take advantage of today’s changing landscape and the opportunity to innovate the way they attract young people into apprenticeships by giving them more confidence about their future. CLOSING THE GENDER GAP In an industry particularly challenged by gendered preconceptions, this year more young women responded saying they see construction as a possible career path (27% vs 20% in 2021). Young women are also increasingly discussing the possibility of a career in construction with their parents, with the proportion of those that hadn’t discussed it dropping from 54% in 2020 to 39% in 2022. 40% of young people perceive the sector to be heavily dominated by men, a substantial drop from 54% in 2017. CAREERS ADVICE AT SCHOOL The disruption to the nation’s classrooms throughout the pandemic meant that pupils were even more likely to miss out on careers advice, with the proportion of young adults who had information on apprenticeships outlined to them at school falling from a high of 63% in 2018 to just 54% this year. www.lancmag.com
