Despite employing over 2.2 million people and being a cornerstone of the UK economy, the construction industry is a sector of stark contrasts, where record employment and high wages coexist with a profound skills crisis, an ageing workforce, and urgent safety and sustainability challenges.
Key Takeaways
- In Q4 2023, the UK construction sector employed 2,234,000 full-time equivalent workers, up 1.2% from Q3.
- Construction accounted for 6.8% of total UK employment in 2023, with 233,000 self-employed workers.
- 14% of the UK construction workforce was aged over 55 in 2023, highlighting an ageing demographic.
- The UK construction industry's Gross Value Added (GVA) was £117 billion in 2022, representing 5.6% of total UK GVA.
- Construction sector turnover reached £188 billion in 2022.
- Average profit margin for construction firms was 2.8% in 2023.
- UK construction output volume index was 97.2 in 2023 (2019=100).
- 145,000 new homes started in 2023, down 9% from 2022.
- Infrastructure pipeline value £650 billion to 2030.
- The fatal injury rate in construction was 1.65 per 100,000 workers in 2022/23.
- 31,000 ill-health cases reported in construction in 2022/23.
- Falls from height caused 29 fatal injuries in 2022/23.
- The UK construction sector emitted 38 million tonnes of CO2e in 2022, 27% of total UK emissions.
- 47% of construction waste recycled in England 2022.
- 76 million tonnes construction waste generated annually.
Despite ongoing growth and demand, the UK construction industry faces significant challenges with skills shortages and an ageing workforce.
Construction Output and Projects
1UK construction output volume index was 97.2 in 2023 (2019=100).
Verified2145,000 new homes started in 2023, down 9% from 2022.
Verified3Infrastructure pipeline value £650 billion to 2030.
Verified4New work output grew 1.1% in repair & maintenance fell 0.8% in 2023.
Directional512.3 million sqm commercial floorspace completed in 2022.
Single source6Housing repair & maintenance output £20 billion in 2022.
Verified72,300 km of roads resurfaced annually average 2020-2023.
Verified845,000 affordable homes delivered 2021-2023.
Verified9Non-housing repair output index 102.5 in 2023.
Directional10650 hospital projects in pipeline value £12 billion.
Single source11Private industrial new work £15.4 billion in 2023.
Verified121.2 million sqm logistics space completed 2023.
Verified13Rail projects output £11 billion in 2022/23.
Verified1428% of output from public non-housing in 2023.
Directional1592,000 homes completed in England 2023.
Single source16Water infrastructure spend £5.5 billion 2023.
Verified17Office new construction 4.1 million sq ft in 2023.
Verified1815,000 social housing units under construction Q4 2023.
Verified19Energy output including renewables £8 billion 2022.
Directional20320 new schools built 2015-2023.
Single source21Civil engineering output up 2.4% in 2023.
Verified22Retail floorspace completions down 22% in 2023.
Verified237,500 km power lines upgraded 2020-2025 plan.
Verified24Private commercial new orders £22 billion Q4 2023.
Directional251.8 million sqm student accommodation completed 2023.
Single source26Flood defence projects 450 schemes 2021-2027.
VerifiedConstruction Output and Projects Interpretation
While a £650 billion infrastructure pipeline promises a future of renewed roads and hospitals, the present reality is a housing market stuck in the mud with starts falling and completions lagging, revealing an industry that’s building everything but the homes we desperately need.
Economic and Financial Metrics
1The UK construction industry's Gross Value Added (GVA) was £117 billion in 2022, representing 5.6% of total UK GVA.
Verified2Construction sector turnover reached £188 billion in 2022.
Verified3Average profit margin for construction firms was 2.8% in 2023.
Verified4Infrastructure construction contributed £42 billion to GVA in 2022.
Directional567% of construction SMEs reported increased costs in 2023.
Single source6Sector investment was £109 billion in new work starts in 2022.
Verified7Construction output grew by 0.4% in 2023 after a 0.5% contraction.
Verified8Public sector construction spending was £55 billion in 2022/23.
Verified942% of firms cited inflation as top financial risk in 2023.
Directional10Export value from UK construction products was £8.2 billion in 2022.
Single source11Average tender price inflation was 4.5% in Q4 2023.
Verified12Construction PMI averaged 48.5 in 2023, indicating contraction.
Verified13Debt levels in construction firms rose 15% in 2023.
Verified14Private housing new starts contributed 28% of total output value.
Directional153.2% growth in building materials prices in 2023.
Single source16Sector paid £25 billion in corporation tax in 2022.
Verified1751% of firms had cashflow issues in Q3 2023.
Verified18GVA per worker in construction was £52,300 in 2022.
Verified19Insolvencies in construction hit 4,046 in 2023, up 86%.
Directional20R&D spend in construction was £1.2 billion in 2022.
Single source2129% rise in material costs for SMEs in 2023.
Verified22Net contribution to trade balance was -£2.1 billion in 2022.
Verified23Average firm profitability fell to 1.9% in 2023.
Verified24Wage costs rose 7.8% year-on-year in 2023.
Directional25Private industrial output value £24 billion in 2022.
Single source2664% of output from top 100 contractors in 2023.
Verified27Forecast GVA growth 1.8% in 2024.
Verified28New orders value £48 billion in Q4 2023.
VerifiedEconomic and Financial Metrics Interpretation
Despite its colossal £188 billion turnover, the UK construction industry is navigating a precarious tightrope, balancing its vital 5.6% contribution to the economy against the sobering reality of razor-thin 1.9% profit margins, soaring insolvencies, and the constant strain of inflation biting at its heels.
Health and Safety
1The fatal injury rate in construction was 1.65 per 100,000 workers in 2022/23.
Verified231,000 ill-health cases reported in construction in 2022/23.
Verified3Falls from height caused 29 fatal injuries in 2022/23.
Verified460,000 reportable injuries under RIDDOR in 2022/23.
Directional5Musculoskeletal disorders affected 27,000 workers in 2022.
Single source638% of fatal accidents involved vehicles in 2022/23.
Verified7Asbestos-related diseases caused 4,000 deaths annually.
Verified81 in 5 construction workers suffer work-related stress.
Verified9Noise-induced hearing loss cases 20,000 in sector.
Directional1085% compliance rate for safety inspections in 2023.
Single source11Vibration white finger affected 500,000 ex-workers.
Verified122,400 over-7-day injuries from slips/trips in 2022/23.
Verified13Mental ill-health costs £5 billion yearly to sector.
Verified1470% of sites had welfare facility issues in audits.
Directional15Dermatitis cases 1,200 in construction 2022.
Single source1615% reduction in injury rate since 2019.
Verified17Excavation collapses caused 5 fatalities 2022/23.
Verified1892% of firms have safety policies but 40% non-compliant.
Verified19Respiratory diseases 6,000 new cases yearly.
Directional2025,000 workers exposed to silica dust risks.
Single source21Suicide rate 3x national average for male workers.
Verified221,100 prosecutions for safety breaches in 2023.
Verified23Lifting equipment incidents 450 in 2022/23.
Verified2455% of small firms lack health surveillance.
Directional25Fatigue-related incidents up 12% post-pandemic.
Single source264.2 million working days lost to injuries 2022.
Verified27Electrical accidents 150 yearly average.
Verified2878% safety improvements from CDM regulations.
VerifiedHealth and Safety Interpretation
These sobering statistics reveal that construction is an industry building triumphs atop a foundation of preventable human suffering, where the price of progress is measured in lives lost, health broken, and minds burdened.
Sustainability and Environment
1The UK construction sector emitted 38 million tonnes of CO2e in 2022, 27% of total UK emissions.
Verified247% of construction waste recycled in England 2022.
Verified376 million tonnes construction waste generated annually.
Verified412% energy use reduction target by 2030 met early.
Directional525,000 low-carbon homes built 2021-2023.
Single source668% of firms adopted BIM for sustainability.
Verified7Water use in construction 1.2 billion litres daily.
Verified835% growth in solar PV installations on buildings 2023.
Verified9Embodied carbon in new builds down 10% since 2019.
Directional1090% of timber used certified sustainable in 2022.
Single source112.1 million tonnes recycled aggregates used 2022.
Verified12Net-zero roadmap adopted by 55% of large firms.
Verified1318% reduction in fleet emissions 2020-2023.
Verified14Green leases in 40% new commercial projects 2023.
Directional15450 MW offshore wind foundations built UK 2023.
Single source16Biodiversity net gain mandated for 100% projects 2024.
Verified1722% of energy from renewables in construction sites.
Verified18Zero-waste sites achieved by 15% of projects.
Verified19Heat pump installations up 300% in homes 2023.
Directional2065% firms investing in modular for low carbon.
Single source21Flood resilient designs in 30% new builds.
VerifiedSustainability and Environment Interpretation
The construction industry is a climate paradox, simultaneously the UK's largest emitter yet also its most active renovator, building a greener future brick by brick while still hauling a mountain of waste.
Workforce and Employment
1In Q4 2023, the UK construction sector employed 2,234,000 full-time equivalent workers, up 1.2% from Q3.
Verified2Construction accounted for 6.8% of total UK employment in 2023, with 233,000 self-employed workers.
Verified314% of the UK construction workforce was aged over 55 in 2023, highlighting an ageing demographic.
Verified4Women represented only 15% of the construction workforce in England in 2022, the lowest among major sectors.
Directional5There were 48,000 construction apprenticeships started in England in 2022/23, a 5% increase year-on-year.
Single source627% of construction firms reported skills shortages as their top business concern in 2023.
Verified7The average weekly earnings in construction reached £682 in 2023, 12% above the national average.
Verified81 in 5 construction workers in the UK were born outside the UK in 2022.
Verified9Construction vacancy rate stood at 3.4% in 2023, higher than the UK average of 2.5%.
Directional1062,000 new construction workers were needed annually from 2021-2025 to meet demand.
Single source11Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers made up 12% of the construction workforce in 2023.
Verified1218% growth in construction managerial roles projected by 2028.
Verified13Average age of UK construction workers was 42.3 years in 2022.
Verified149% of construction firms had over 50% of their workforce as agency staff in 2023.
Directional1545,000 construction trainees completed programs in 2022/23.
Single source16Site operatives comprised 68% of total construction employment in 2023.
Verified1722% increase in demand for green skills in construction by 2027.
Verified183.1% unemployment rate in construction sector Q1 2024.
Verified1911% of workforce had NVQ level 6 or above qualifications in 2022.
Directional2076,000 workers left the industry annually pre-2023.
Single source2128% of firms recruiting for digital skills roles in 2023.
Verified22Construction employment grew by 2.1% in 2023 despite economic slowdown.
Verified2315,000 mental health cases reported among workers in 2022.
Verified2441% of small firms struggled with labour retention in 2023.
Directional25Youth employment in construction rose 8% for under-25s in 2023.
Single source265.2% of workforce were disabled in 2022.
Verified27Demand for 225,000 additional workers by 2025.
Verified2832% of managers reported recruitment difficulties in 2023.
Verified29Part-time workers made up 4% of construction employment.
Directional3012% rise in female apprenticeships 2020-2023.
Single sourceWorkforce and Employment Interpretation
The UK construction industry presents a landscape of robust growth, high wages, and acute growing pains, where an aging, predominantly male, and increasingly diverse workforce juggles skills shortages and a green transition, all while trying to retain and attract enough new talent to stop the roof from caving in on future demand.
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