London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 02, 2026

"2020s

"2020s

The construction industry in the United Kingdom has been facing a significant shortage of skilled workers due to the exodus of workers from the sector following the financial crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shortage has been particularly acute in the wake of Brexit, which led to a reduction in the number of workers from the European Union entering the country.

To address this issue, the Home Office has announced that bricklayers, plasterers, roofers, and carpenters have been added to the shortage occupation list (SOL), which allows employers to recruit staff from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) if they cannot find suitable candidates within the EEA.

The move by the Home Office is a response to the recommendations made by the Migration Advisory Committee, which advises the government on immigration policy.

By adding these skilled construction workers to the SOL, the government is acknowledging the difficulty that the industry is facing in recruiting the necessary workforce.

This move will help to ease the recruitment difficulties faced by the industry, especially housebuilders, who have been struggling to find the necessary skilled labor.

The construction industry has been experiencing a significant shortage of workers, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that the industry had lost more than a third of its EU-born workforce since 2017.

With the industry facing a significant shortfall in workers, the easing of immigration rules will be welcomed by many in the sector.

However, the decision is not without controversy, with some arguing that it could lead to a reduction in the number of domestic workers in the sector.

The National Federation of Builders has welcomed the government's decision to add these skilled construction workers to the SOL, stating that foreign workers are vital to make up for the shortfall in the UK construction workforce.

However, the group also called for more training support, explaining that it takes up to three years to conclude many apprenticeships.

This highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the skills shortage in the sector, including a focus on training and apprenticeships.

The construction industry is a crucial sector of the UK economy, and its success is vital for the government's target of building 300,000 new homes annually by the middle of the
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Government Confirms Rejected Asylum Seekers to Remain Amid Enforcement Challenges
UK-China Economic Talks Focus on Services Trade and High-Value Sectors
Buckingham Palace Revamp Plans Unveiled to Modernise Royal and Public Facilities
Two Dead After Light Aircraft Crash in Essex Field, Investigation Underway
Princess Diana Marked at 65 With UK Tributes Reflecting on Her Public Legacy
England Teachers Face New Pay Cap Rules for Academy School Leaders Under Education Reform
Dublin Security Alert Escalates After Stabbing and Reports of Transport Disruption
UK Government Faces Scrutiny Over £10,000 Asylum Living Cost Contribution Requirement
England Prepares World Cup Knockout Match Against Democratic Republic of Congo
Northern Rail Project Warned of HS2-Style Cost Risks by UK Parliamentary Committee
UK Tightens Asylum Rules as Most Rejected Applicants Expected to Remain in Country
UK Heat Health Alert Issued as Temperatures Expected to Exceed 30°C Across England
Halifax Brand to Disappear From UK High Streets in Lloyds Banking Group Restructuring
England Teachers Receive 6.6 Percent Pay Rise Over Two Years as Schools Warn of Budget Strain
UK Defence Spending Plan Sparks Budget Clash as Regional Infrastructure Projects Face Pressure
Inquest Continues in Northern Ireland into Death of Noah Donohoe in Belfast
UK Travel Industry Calls for Suspension of New EU Border System During Peak Holiday Season
Telegraph Media Group Acquired by German Media Firm in £575 Million Deal Completion
House of Commons Warns Northern Rail Upgrade Risks Repeating High-Speed 2 Cost Overruns
UK Transport Unions Warn of Summer Strike Action Over Pay Disputes
UK Health Secretary Calls Maternity Care Review a “Watershed Moment” for NHS Reform
Nigel Farage Faces Questions Over £270,000 Payment Linked to Gold Marketing Firm
Labour Government Faces Internal Division Over North Sea Oil and Gas Policy Direction
National Screening Committee Invites New Proposals for UK Health Screening Programmes
UK and China Hold Industrial Strategy Talks on Trade and Export Growth Opportunities
UK Defence Funding Gap Widens as £4.7 Billion Shortfall Puts Pressure on Spending Priorities
United Kingdom Faces Historic Demographic Shift as Deaths Forecast to Exceed Births in England and Wales
United Kingdom Introduces Major Motability Scheme Reforms Targeting £1 Billion in Long-Term Savings
Global Billionaire Numbers Rise 13 Percent Amid Artificial Intelligence Stock Boom
Body of Fifteen-Year-Old Boy Recovered from Manchester Reservoir
Major Rail Disruption in UK After Cows Stray Onto Intercity Tracks
UK Launches National Campaign to Reduce Water Consumption After Heatwave
Foreign Secretary David Lammy Raises Case of UK Woman Death with US Authorities
Shetland Islands Council Approves Subsea Tunnel Plans Linking Major Islands
Telegraph Media Group Takeover by German-Led Consortium Completed
Resident Doctors in England Accept Government Pay and Conditions Deal
Andy Burnham Sets Out Ten-Year Economic Vision Amid Labour Leadership Debate
Asylum Seekers in UK Face £10,000 Contribution Requirement Under New Law
UK Government Moves to Break Apple and Google App Store Dominance
New UK Steel Tariffs and Import Quotas Aim to Shield Domestic Industry
Damning Report Exposes Failures in Maternity and Neonatal Care Across England
Government Data Reveals Five Billion Pound Shortfall in UK Defence Budget
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Unveils Three Hundred Billion Pound Defence Investment Plan
UK Crime and Policing Act 2026 Comes into Force with New Justice System Reforms
UK Prime Minister Hosts NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for Security Talks at Downing Street
UK Tightens Oversight of Emissions Trading Scheme Through New Ministerial Directions
UK Issues Statement at UN Security Council on Violence in the West Bank
UK Environment Agency Clears Illegal Waste Site in West Yorkshire After Court Action
UK Resident Sentenced for Fraudulently Claiming £30,000 in Covid Business Loans
UK Launches Taskforce to Help Young People Claim Dormant Child Trust Fund Savings
×