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The publication of the Government’s new Construction Jobs Plan reinforces the importance of coordinated action between employers, training providers and local partners to ensure the construction workforce can meet future demand. The plan sets out a national framework to support the delivery of housing, infrastructure and clean energy projects, alongside the workforce needed to make them happen.
Construction is one of Kent and Medway’s most significant sectors and remains a key priority within the Kent & Medway LSIP 2026-2029. Local employers have consistently highlighted workforce shortages across a wide range of occupations, from bricklaying, carpentry and electrical installation through to civils, plant operation, site supervision and project management roles.
The national plan identifies many of the same challenges recognised through the Kent & Medway LSIP, including skills shortages, an ageing workforce, barriers facing SMEs when engaging with training, and the need to attract a broader and more diverse talent pipeline into the industry. It also places a strong emphasis on workforce planning, careers pathways, apprenticeships, industry placements, digital skills, modern methods of construction and the adoption of new technologies, including AI.
For Kent and Medway, these priorities align closely with the ambitions set out in the region’s dedicated Construction & Built Environment Sector Skills Plan, which calls for stronger entry routes into construction, increased apprenticeship participation, greater employer engagement with education, and the embedding of digital and green skills across training provision.
Major developments across the region, including housing growth, infrastructure investment and projects such as the Lower Thames Crossing, are expected to generate sustained demand for skilled workers over the coming years. As a result, collaboration between employers, providers and stakeholders will be critical to ensuring local people can access the opportunities being created while helping businesses secure the talent they need.
The national plan also highlights the role of Local Skills Improvement Plans in bringing together businesses, educators and local stakeholders to identify and respond to skills needs within local labour markets. Through the Kent & Medway LSIP, employers continue to play a central role in shaping skills priorities, influencing provision and helping to develop practical solutions to workforce challenges across the construction and built environment sector.
As the construction sector continues to evolve, the Kent & Medway LSIP will work with employers and partners to ensure local priorities remain aligned with national policy and investment, supporting the development of the skilled workforce needed to deliver growth across the region.
To learn more about the Kent & Medway LSIP Construction & Built Environment priorities, read the sector plan on the LSIP website. The Government’s new Construction Jobs Plan can be viewed below or here: Construction Jobs Plan.
