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Bricklayer shortage worsens UK housebuilding crisis

Bricklayers - Level 4

A housing crisis in the UK is because of a lack of bricklayers. Britain needs more homes so young people can get on the housing ladder. Rising rent and unaffordable housing have increased rough sleeping. Many governments have failed to meet housebuilding targets. The latest government said it needs more bricklayers and skilled tradespeople. The UK needs an extra 25,000 bricklayers to fulfil its promise to build 1.5 million new homes.

The UK blamed the lack of workers on "years of underinvestment in skills". It said it was doing its best to build 300,000 new homes. It added: "We will pull every lever to deliver on our commitment." However, a housebuilding consultant called the government's homebuilding pledge "unrealistic". He said training enough workers could take "a generation". He called the current target of 5,000 new apprenticeships each year a "drop in the ocean".

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Bricklayers - Level 5

A housing crisis in the UK is being made worse by a shortage of bricklayers. Britain needs to build more homes so young people can get on the housing ladder. In addition, soaring rents and a lack of affordable housing have increased rough sleeping. Successive governments have failed to meet their housebuilding targets. The latest government is being hindered by a lack of qualified bricklayers and skilled tradespeople. The UK needs an extra 25,000 bricklayers, 10,000 carpenters, and 3,000 new electricians to fulfil its promise to build 1.5 million new homes.

The UK government has blamed the lack of workers on "years of underinvestment in skills". An official said the government was doing its best to build 300,000 new homes. Another spokesperson added: "We will pull every lever to deliver on our commitment." However, a housebuilding consultant called the government's home construction pledge "unrealistic". He said training enough workers could take "a generation". He added that the current target of adding 5,000 new apprenticeships each year was "fanciful" and a "drop in the ocean".

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Bricklayers - Level 6

A housing crisis in the UK is being exacerbated by a shortage of bricklayers. Britain needs to build more homes to enable young people to get on the housing ladder and to end the scourge of homelessness. Soaring rents and a lack of affordable housing have greatly increased rough sleeping. Successive governments over decades have failed to meet their housebuilding targets. The latest government's efforts are being hindered by a shortfall of qualified bricklayers and other skilled tradespeople. The UK needs an extra 25,000 bricklayers, 3,000 plumbers, 4,000 plasterers, 10,000 carpenters, and 3,000 new electricians to meet its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes.

The UK government has blamed the deficit in construction worker numbers on "years of underinvestment in skills". A housing ministry official said her department was doing its utmost to build 300,000 new homes a year. Another spokesperson added: "We will pull every lever to deliver on our commitment, which includes building a diverse workforce." However, Colin Brown, a housebuilding consultant, called the government's home construction pledge "unrealistic". He said training sufficient numbers of workers could take "a generation". He added that the current target of adding 5,000 new apprenticeships each year was "fanciful" and a "drop in the ocean".

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson