The last few years have been difficult for many industries,
but for the construction industry, it’s been particularly trying. Since the
2016 referendum, ongoing uncertainty within the sector has meant construction
businesses have had to deal with the world’s hesitation to tie themselves into
a British project of any kind.

Brexit isn’t the only challenge facing the construction
industry. The effects of an aging workforce, the growing demand for more
eco-friendly alternatives to traditional construction methods, and the
introduction of many new technologies has meant that the sector must adapt
rapidly.

2019’s challenges

Let’s look in more detail at these ongoing challenges for the
industry this year. From profitability to sustainability, economic, social and
political factors all play a part in the success of firms within this industry.
Here is a selection of the major problems that the construction industry is
fighting against in 2019:

Retirement and skill shortages

Last year saw the
worst recorded level of skill shortages within the construction
industry, and it’s only set to continue. From bricklayers, carpenters and
plumbers, to electricians and plasterers; the scarcity of employees is
reportedly across the board. An aging workforce means more retirement, which
means the gap needs to be filled with new workers. But with less
than one in 10 young people considering a job in construction, the
sector needs to do more to entice the next generation of employee.

After all, the sector isn’t looking particularly appealing to foreign
workers anymore, thanks to Brexit. In fact, a
third of EU construction workers are said to be considering leaving the UK,
further widening the skills shortage for the sector. On top of this, while
skill shortage is a large enough issue, it is also having another detrimental
effect on the industry — cost. Due to the lack of skilled tradespeople, wages
are rising for jobs within the sector, which, along with a rise in material
cost, is impacting on profitability for building companies.

Leaving the EU (and everything that comes with it)

The problem of uncertainty is rife when it comes to Brexit. While
there is speculation regarding how the construction sector will fare after 29
March 2019 — the official leaving date — negotiations are ongoing, and we don’t
yet know how taxes, imports and labour between the UK and EU will pan out.

But it’s not just labourers from the European Union that the
sector stands to lose out on. According to government data, around 60%
of imported building materials come from the EU. Combine this with a
potential negative change in VAT and tax, and a loss of access to the European
Investment Bank and European Investment Fund — major investors in construction
SMEs — and we could see higher product prices and less capital for the
construction sector. 

Worrying for the world

There’s also pressure on the construction sector to adapt to
greener methods too. According to the World
Economic Forum, the construction industry can account for up to 40%
of the world’s carbon emissions. With a global drive to crackdown on carbon
emissions, any sector that doesn’t assist with this initiative could run the
risk of incurring sanctions and fines — another potential hit that could affect
the construction industry’s profitability.

New technology

The construction industry also needs to keep up with all the
latest technological advances in order to stay relevant on a global scale. From
robotics to BIM — building information modelling — there’s a wave of new
technologies and gadgets available to help make construction more efficient and
profitable. However, this is only possible if building firms of all sizes are
willing to get on board with a new way of working.

Ways the sector can adapt

The problem of labour shortages

First, the industry must address the matter of its workforce. The Chartered
Institute of Building claims that the construction sector will need to secure 157,000
new recruits by 2021 if it wants to keep up with demand. One method
of enhancing the construction workforce is perhaps to encourage more
apprenticeships in the industry — and positively, apprenticeship starts are at
a record high in the UK construction industry at the moment. 

With skilled workers from the EU no longer as readily available,
the sector needs to work on homegrown talent. If the industry wants to prosper
down the line, it will need to keep encouraging young workers to take on
apprenticeship programmes as soon as possible, whether this is via positive
workplace initiatives, bonuses or a closer relationship with schools.

Imports  

It’s impossible to predict the full impact of Brexit right now.
However, it’s clear that material costs and the ease of employing the labour of
EU nationals are the sector’s greatest concerns. To keep material costs down,
building companies must keep a detailed inventory of what they have and what
they need. Replacing can be more costly than simply repairing and vice versa,
while not ‘shopping around’ for the best local prices can mean bargains are
missed. Although we may not see a significant increase in charges and tax for
EU imports, it may be worth sourcing UK- and none EU-based alternatives now to
ease the pressure in 2019.

Keeping it green

Going green isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity. The government is
determined to lower
carbon emissions by at least 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. So, the
construction industry needs to be active in reducing its contribution to
emissions if it wants to avoid potential financial penalties.

Highlighting the need to recycle in the sector will certainly
help. Furthermore, many construction vehicles and equipment, such as work platforms,
come with eco-friendlier hybrid motors or can be powered by batteries, while
utilising solar energy panels, non-toxic paint, locally-grown timber, and
low-energy lightbulbs during the construction process will all contribute to a
greener industry.

Continuing to bring in new technology

The construction industry also needs to stay ahead of the
technology game. Construction software that eases communication between
different teams on a single building project is growing in use and popularity
across the sector, as are BIM and augmented reality technologies which help
project managers spot potentially costly issues before the physical
construction. Similarly, robotic machines are helping ease the pressure of a
lack of low-level workers while making potentially hazardous jobs easier to
complete, and advances in materials — such as self-healing and permeable
concrete solutions — are solving longstanding problems, like cracked building
foundations.

There are many benefits to this. For example, it’s possible that
construction companies can help protect themselves from using inefficient,
labour-intensive and environmentally-unfriendly methods by learning about new
technologies and bringing them into their workspaces.

The construction sector is certainly in the midst of a difficult
time.  However, a bright future is not
unattainable. By adopting eco-friendly processes, being responsive to new
technology, having a plan in place for Brexit, and encouraging apprentices to
come on board, the sector can thrive in 2019 and beyond.