Engineering construction firms operating in the UK’s Power Generation sector are set to grow their headcount by a third by 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new report published by the ECITB.
The power generation sector includes supply chain companies involved in electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, which collectively employ 5% of the ECI workforce. Analysis of the survey data provided by ECITB-registered companies, shows that employers are optimistic about workforce growth expectations, with a 33% increase anticipated on pre-pandemic levels by 2023.
Compared to other parts of the engineering construction industry, the power generation sector has a relatively young workforce and a high proportion of workers under 50 years old (67%) compared to the ECI as a whole (61%). Consequently, the pressures expected in other parts of the ECI due to high numbers of soon to be retiring workers may not be as stark in the power generation sector.
Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of the ECITB, said: “Our census data suggests the power generation sector is bouncing back from the impact of the pandemic quicker and with faster growth than other engineering construction sectors.
“Companies in the power generation sector, including nuclear and renewables, have a major role to play in our journey to net zero. These findings highlight that employers are optimistic about the future and are growing their workforce to deliver future projects.
Conducted in Spring 2021, the Workforce Census asked engineering construction industry (ECI) employers in-scope to the ECITB to provide information about their workforce numbers, locations and roles. Data collected included demographic information and asked for views on workforce growth, Net Zero, Covid-19 and Brexit. Fifty percent of the ECITB’s in-scope employers responded to the Workforce Census, representing 45,351 workers from 153 in-scope companies across 1,360 locations.
The report produced by the ECITB highlights an urgent need to address potential skills and labour shortages as employer responses show an ageing workforce and slow recruitment of new talent in some sectors. This is concerning given the workforce expansion required to deliver net zero by the Government’s 2050 deadline.
