33% of built environment graduates are not working in the industry

According to the latest statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the graduate outcomes figures show that 92% of architecture, building and planning graduates find work or further study, but the report is unable to say wholly whether or not the study is construction related.

However, it does show that 32% of those architecture, building and planning graduates do find work in the construction industry and 35% find jobs in professional, scientific and technical activities, which include building professional services.

67% of architecture, building and planning graduates did end up working in the built environment and related industries

So based on these statistics we can say that around 67% of architecture, building and planning graduates did end up working in the built environment and related industries.

However, this means that 33% of built environment graduates are not working in the industry

Although the proportion will be even higher when you consider many more will be working clientside on construction projects. Retailers, financial institutions, organisations with substantial building stock (local government, NHS, etc.) will employ construction managers/professionals. That won’t be immediately clear in the statistics.

For example, 6% are working in real estate activities, 5% in public administration, 5% in wholesale and retail. What adds credence to this is that analysis by occupation (SOC code) shows that 85% are in high skilled employment.

30% to 40% of construction graduates are not working in the industry six months after course completion

An in-depth UK government report from 2019, states that,

“At present, between 30% and 40% of those who complete construction courses have not entered the industry within 6 months of course completion. One reason is the lack of access to high quality work experience. Apprenticeships, where trainees are employed whilst they train, help to overcome this problem and are one of the best routes into the sector.”

Construction industry expert, Alex Ramsden, told Jackie de Burca of Constructive Voices

“30 to 40%, of graduates have not entered the industry within six months of completing their course. So you have all these people graduating, and then they just can’t get into work. And even now, when there is so much skill shortage …

But then you have a lot of people just graduating and they can’t get into the industry. There is clearly a gap within the industry, it’s something that the sector needs to look at and solve before it gets worse”

Is it a lack of training and patience?

“Why can’t people get into workplaces, are there not enough training programs? Is there not enough patience and willingness to train people up? The problem is, if we don’t do something soon it is only going to be worse in the future. Something has to change.”

We need to improve the image of the construction industry

“I think there’s other issues as well, obviously there’s a gender gap in the construction industry, which is getting better, but it’s still taking way too long.

…also, I think people view construction in a different way to what it actually is.”

Who is Alex Ramsden?

Alex Ramsden has recently secured (September 2022) 130% of his crowdfunding target.

His construction recruitment and learning network, Collabed, aims to:

Take Your Construction Career One Step Forward

Join a construction-specialised platform designed to help you find new employers, broaden your network & educate yourself

Listen to Alex speak on our news channel.(coming very soon).