How Big Is the Migrant Labour Force Within the UK Construction Industry?

Estimates from the Annual Population Survey show that an average of 2.2 million people worked in the construction industry between 2014 and 2016 accounting for 7% of workers across all industries in the UK

7% of workers in the construction industry in the UK are EU27 nationals and 3% are non-EU – compared with all other industries in the UK (excluding construction) - 6% EU27 nationals and 4% non-EU nationals· In London, 28% of construction workers are EU27 nationals and 7% are non-EU nationals. This compares to 13% who are EU27 nationals and 10% non-EU nationals for all other industries in London (excluding construction)

Of the 165,000 EU27 nationals working in construction, it is estimated 49% are EU8 nationals, 29% EU2 nationals, 11% EU15, 10% Irish nationals and the remainder EU other. Compared to EU27 nationals working in all other industries (excluding construction) 47% are EU8 nationals, 9% EU2 nationals, 35% EU15 nationals, 8% Irish nationals and the remainder EU other

The construction workforce is ageing. There was a 13% increase in the numbers of workers aged 45 and over in the construction industry between 1991 and 2011, but non-UK nationals are younger (18% aged 45 and older) compared to UK nationals (47% aged 45 and older)

41% of those working in construction were self-employed between 2014 and 2016. EU8 (63%) and EU2 nationals (66%) in the construction industry are more likely to be self-employed compared to all other nationalities (39%) · 33% of the resident non-UK nationals who work in construction occupations in the UK work in general labour· The construction sector is very flexible but fragmented, which makes gathering data on the workforce intrinsically difficult. Further work is needed to build a comprehensive evidence base of the skills and skill gaps within the industry.

Image: UK Construction and the use of migrant labour.

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