Construction Overview

Construction is a massive sector and is one of Scotland’s key industries.

• It is a very diverse industry; ranging from small local businesses to world famous blue chip companies.
• About fourteen per cent of all Scottish jobs are in the construction industry.
• Over half of all the jobs are in the engineering construction industry.
• The recent history of the industry has been one of steady growth in employment.
• Construction projects are to be found across all parts of Scotland.

Areas Included

The role of the construction industry is to improve, maintain and preserve the built environment in which we all live and work.

This includes:

• Private and public housing
• Commercial and industrial construction
• Public sector construction including schools and hospitals
• Infrastructure projects such as roads, railways and airports
• Dams, power stations and offshore installations

The Construction Industry has jobs for people with a wide range of skills from craft to professional level.

• In the construction sector one in four of all jobs are in skilled trades such as carpenter, roofer, mason and painter.
• In the engineering construction sector one in five of all jobs are in skilled trades.
• A third of all jobs in the engineering construction industry are at professional level.

For a full list of Construction jobs see below.

What’s it like working in the Construction Industry?

• This industry will appeal most to those with technical and practical skills.
• Most jobs are full time - very few part time jobs(8/9%)
• Construction is one of the most male dominated industries. Females barely account for 1 in 5 of all jobs.
• The average age of a worker is 39/40 - the same as the average for Scotland as a whole.
• Job prospects for school leavers in the construction industry are good.
• More than a quarter of employers have recruited a school leaver in the last two to three years.
• Nearly 50% of employers in the building services engineering industry take part in the modern apprenticeship scheme.