CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION: CHILDREN HAVE THEIR SAY

The construction industry employs one in every fourteen people in the UK and offers a wide choice of careers in craft, technical, professional and management fields (CITB, 2003). However, there is increasing concern that the future performance of the industry may be compromised by a shortage of skilled people. Egan's influential strategic vision, Accelerating Change, sets out ambitious recruitment targets for the construction industry. Namely, to recruit and retain 300,000 qualified people by the end of 2006. Whether such targets can be met remains in doubt, as the report Rethinking Construction Education (2002) concludes, that construction degrees face extinction in ten years if the decline in student applications continues. This paper seeks to add to existing careers-related research, by identify factors that influence career choice in the construction industry. Focus groups comprising Year 9 children from six schools were conducted and their views regarding the perceived career opportunities offered by the construction industry were recorded. A novel computer- based data collection tool was developed and, drawing upon a list of 20 careers statements, the research sought the response of children in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Analysis adopts 'R' factor analysis to identify variables that influence career choice in construction. Despite the small sample used in this pilot study, initial findings suggest that school subjects and children's performance in these subjects are important factors in career choice together with the nature of careers advice. Consistent with earlier research it also appears that factor weightings attributed to individual variables are influenced by gender. Whilst tentatively recommending that construction-related promotional campaigns should explicitly link school studies e.g. design technology and resistant materials, to the various careers the industry has to offer, a large-scale longitudinal study is essential.