Rachel Reeves unveils £600m to tackle construction skills shortages

Youthbuild UK welcomes Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement of a £600 million package aimed at tackling construction skills shortages across the country.

The proposed investment, revealed during Reeves’ visit to a housing development site in West Yorkshire, would be delivered through a new National Skills Fund. The fund is designed to support further education colleges and training providers to upskill the next generation of workers, with a focus on key growth sectors—including construction.

At a time when the construction industry faces increasing demand and a shortage of skilled labour, this funding pledge signals a crucial commitment to bridging the gap. Reeves highlighted the need to address vacancies across the sector to meet housing and infrastructure goals and to drive long-term economic growth.

At YouthBuild UK, we see first-hand the impact that access to training and employment support can have on young people—particularly those who have faced disadvantage.

This announcement aligns with our ongoing mission to support young people into meaningful careers, and we hope that any future government ensures that those furthest from the job market are included in training and employment opportunities.

We will continue to champion policies and programmes that invest in young people and the construction skills of the future.