A new CITB report has revealed that workers are becoming less willing to travel long distances for employment, highlighting the need to develop localised workforces to support local employers.
The organisation has released its research report titled Workforce Mobility and Skills in the UK Construction Sector 2025. It reveals that over the past year, just above one-third of construction workers have worked within 20 miles of their permanent or current residence, while slightly more than a quarter have worked over 50 miles away. This marks a decline from 32% in 2022.
The report comes shortly after the UK Government’s announcement about introducing new technical education pathways. These routes will offer 14-year-olds early opportunities to gain technical skills, work experience, and build connections with local employers.
According to CITB, workforce mobility has traditionally enabled the construction sector to meet demand surges. Skilled workers have travelled to locations where housing, infrastructure, and commercial projects are underway, giving employers the flexibility to staff projects throughout the UK.
Nonetheless, the new research indicates a shift in this trend. CITB’s analysis shows that family, lifestyle, and personal factors are increasingly influencing where workers decide to work. In the past year, only one in six construction workers have worked between 50 and 100 miles from home, down from 26% in 2015. Furthermore, just one in ten have worked more than 100 miles away, compared to 21% in 2015.