ECITB Census reveals industry hiring challenges in the South West
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The ECI plays a crucial role in the UK meeting its net zero ambitions, spanning sectors that focus on the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of heavy industry, including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation, renewables, chemicals, food and drink, pharmaceuticals and water treatment.
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s (ECITB) Regional Workforce Census report offers a comprehensive overview of the ECI workforce in the South West, having gathered data on more than 7,500 workers in the region.
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Hide AdIt reveals that 100% of employers in the South West, such as those working on the nuclear power station build at Hinkley Point C, are experiencing challenges hiring ECI workers, compared to 71% in the wider industry.


The main reason given by employers is a lack of qualified candidates, skills and training.
Electricians, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, safety case specialists and project managers are among the roles proving most difficult to recruit.
ECITB Chief Executive Andrew Hockey said: “The Census is vital in helping industry understand labour market dynamics, anticipate workforce challenges and develop strategies to address skill gaps across Great Britain, such as in the South West.
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Hide Ad“Only through bringing in new talent, training and upskilling existing workers can industry benefit from the skilled workforce it needs both for now and the future.
“The ECITB will continue to support employers in the region to invest in their talent pipeline – helping industry to grow the number of apprenticeships and graduate opportunities, developing alternative entry pathways and funding quality training to upskill and reskill the workforce.”
Other key findings on the South West from the Census
- The nuclear sector is the largest ECI employer in the region, accounting for 89% of the workforce.
- Key occupations in the region are project managers, operations and production technicians, mechanical, project, commissioning and systems engineers, as well as scaffolders and planners.
- Employers collectively expect a 17% increase in headcount over the next three years.
- The workforce in the region has a smaller proportion of workers over 50 than the national ECI average and the regional active population, reducing concerns about an ageing workforce, which is a common theme in other regions.
- The South West is more reliant on overseas workers, with 16.7% of the workforce made up of non-British nationals, compared to just 5.3% for the industry as a whole.
Helping predict future trends
The ECITB conducts a census every three years, with in-scope employers providing information on workforce numbers by occupation, sector and location, as well as demographics data on age, gender, ethnicity and nationality.
Employers primarily involved in engineering construction are considered ‘in-scope’ of the ECITB’s remit, with those exceeding a certain size legally required to contribute to an industrial training levy.
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Hide AdIn summer 2024, employers were asked to fill out an online survey which included questions on expected workforce growth, business opportunities by sector and hiring challenges.
Andrew added: “Thanks to a record response rate, up from 54% of the workforce covered in 2021 to 78.8%, the ECITB will now be able to provide more precise, up-to-date data to industry and make predictions on future workforce trends and labour demands in the South West.
“The Census data will help inform training interventions and ensure accurate representation of industry in our discussions with governments and other partners.”
Find out more about the ECITB Workforce Census at: www.ecitb.org.uk/research/census/