Engineering construction jobs could more than double in Wales by 2030
That's according to new research published today (June 9) by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), which warns that delays or cancellation of key projects like the Wylfa nuclear plant on Anglesey could significantly reduce that figure.
The ECITB's Labour Forecasting Tool (LFT)—recently updated with data from its 2024 Workforce Census—shows that the sector could grow by 4,460 jobs within five years, with scaffolders, design technicians and general operatives among the roles most in demand.
However, if the Wylfa project fails to materialise, the increase would be far smaller, with only 550 new jobs forecast—a modest rise of 14%.
The ECI spans a wide range of heavy industries critical to the UK's net zero ambitions, including oil and gas, nuclear, renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen, and water treatment. The sector plays a key role in the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of industrial infrastructure.
The ECITB said the revised forecasts were made possible by a record response from employers across Wales, with workforce data collected on over 2,200 employees. The census provided fresh insights into age distribution, hiring challenges, and business opportunities in the region.
Andrew Hockey, ECITB Chief Executive, said: 'A key pillar of our Leading Industry Learning strategy is delivering accurate labour market intelligence to support data-driven planning.
'This year's strong response to the Census allowed us to improve our Labour Forecasting Tool, which is helping us identify the scale of the workforce challenge in Wales.
'We're already seeing hiring difficulties—80% of employers reported challenges recruiting staff—and an ageing workforce, with the proportion of workers over 60 rising from 11% to 14.6% in just three years.
'Meanwhile, the share of workers under 30 dropped from 18% to just 12.1%. That's a troubling trend.'
Mr Hockey called for a collaborative approach involving government, employers, training providers and industry bodies to plug the skills gap and grow the future workforce.
'By investing in people and working together to bring new talent into the sector while upskilling existing staff, the industry can rise to the challenge and help Wales meet its net zero goals.'
The Labour Forecasting Tool and full census findings can be viewed online at:
www.ecitb.org.uk/research/labour-forecasting-tool/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Government confirms next census will take place in 2031
The next census of England and Wales will take place in 2031, the Government has confirmed. Coinciding with planned censuses in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the survey will be the 23rd to take place, having been held every decade since 1801, except in 1941 due to the Second World War. The survey provides the most accurate estimate of the number of people and households across the country – and includes questions on topics such as age, sex, nationality and ethnicity. Census results are used by a range of organisations including governments, councils and businesses, and underpin everything from the calculation of economic growth and unemployment to helping plan schools, health services and transport links and managing migration. Some 97% of households completed the most recent census of England and Wales, which took place in March 2021 while the Covid-19 pandemic was still under way. It was the first survey of its kind to prioritise the digital collection of data, with nearly nine out of 10 households completing the form online. The 2021 census is also expected to provide £5.5 billion in benefits to central and local government and the private sector over the following decade. Cabinet Office minister Georgia Gould said: 'The 2031 census is an important milestone providing essential insights for businesses and public services. 'It will support our delivery of a decade of national renewal – targeting public services where they are needed, managing migration and growing our economy.' Planning for the 2031 census began last month, with the UK Statistics Authority recommending that the Government asks the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to carry out the survey. National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency also recommended the census take place in 2031. The decision to call a mandatory census of the population can be taken only by the Government. But the ONS has already started its preparations and will launch a public consultation later this autumn to collect feedback on what should be included in the survey.
The Independent
27-06-2025
- The Independent
An 84-game season is among the changes coming to the NHL as part of the new labor deal
An 84-game season is coming to the NHL as part of an extension of the collective bargaining agreement that has been tentatively agreed to by the league and the Players' Association. They announced a memorandum of understanding Friday in Los Angeles before the first round of the draft. It still needs to be ratified by the Board of Governors and the full NHLPA membership. Two games are being added to to the regular season, the maximum length of contracts players can sign is being shortened and a salary cap will be implemented in the playoffs for the first time, two people told The Associated Press on Thursday. The NHL and NHLPA began negotiations in earnest this spring after agreeing at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February to jointly hold a World Cup of Hockey in 2028. With revenue breaking records annually and the cap increasing exponentially in the coming years, Commissioner Gary Bettman and union executive director Marty Walsh voiced optimism about reaching an agreement quickly. There were no disagreements on a host of major issues like in previous bargaining talks. 'There's been tremendous growth, and what's ahead is spectacular on many fronts,' said Toronto 's John Tavares, who's going into his 17th season. 'The predictability of things goes a long way, I think, for everyone in the sport. It's great to have that partnership and how collaborative it's been, which has been very different from 2012. It's great to see and happy that the growth of the game and the sport and the business side of it is all kind of in sync and in synergy and we're able to kind of continue to build off the many great things over the last few years.' The extension through 2030 provides the sport extended labor peace since the last lockout in 2012-13, which shortened that season to 48 games. Here is what is changing: Longer season Going from 82 to 84 games beginning in 2026-27 — making the season 1,344 total games — is also expected to include a reduction in exhibition play, to four games apiece for the 32 teams. The additions would be played within divisions, evening out the schedule to ensure four showdowns each season between rivals like Toronto and Boston, Dallas and Colorado and Washington and Pittsburgh. Currently, there is a rotation that has some division opponents facing off only three times a season. That imbalance is coming to an end, and this is not the first time the NHL has had an 84-game season. The league experimented with that in 1992-93 and '93-94, when each team added a pair of neutral site games. Shorter contracts Since 2013, players have been able to re-sign with their own team for up to eight years and sign with another for up to seven years. Under the new CBA, each would be reduced by a year, to seven for re-signing and six for changing teams. Top players, given the injury risks in the sport, have preferred the longest contracts possible. The same goes for general managers, eager to keep talent in the fold as long as possible. Nathan MacKinnon, Sebastian Aho, Leon Draisaitl, Juuse Saros, Travis Konecny, Mathew Barzal and, as recently as March, Mikko Rantanen are all among the top players who have signed lucrative eight-year deals. 'I guess that could be a rarity now,' said Trent Frederic, who on Friday signed an eight-year contract to remain with the Oilers. 'Eight years is better than seven. It's good to lock in before that changes.' But with the salary cap getting its biggest increases season by season over the next three years, the thinking had already begun to change. Auston Matthews re-signed for only four years with Toronto last summer, and Connor McDavid could also opt for a short-term contract extension with Edmonton. Playoff cap Currently, teams with players on long-term injured reserve can exceed the salary cap by roughly the amount of the players' salaries until the playoffs begin. Several times over the past decade, Stanley Cup contenders have used LTIR to activate players at the start of or early in the playoffs after they missed some or all of the regular season. Florida did so with Matthew Tkachuk before winning the second of back-to-back titles, Vegas has done it with Mark Stone on multiple occasions, Tampa Bay with Nikita Kucherov and Chicago with Patrick Kane. The rule has been criticized as an unfair loophole, a way to stockpile talent and then add even more for the postseason. After he and Carolina were eliminated by the Lightning in 2021, Dougie Hamilton quipped that the Hurricanes 'lost to a team that's $18 million over the cap.' Tampa Bay went back to back, and players wore T-shirts with that saying on it during their Cup celebration. That will no longer be possible, though it's not exactly clear how it will work. ___
Reuters
26-06-2025
- Reuters
Reports: Proposed CBA extension to include 84-game season
June 26 - The NHL appears headed toward an 84-game regular season, according to terms of a new collective bargaining agreement that would run through the 2029-30 season and could be revealed as early as Friday, the Daily Faceoff and ESPN reported. The four-year CBA extension also is expected to include a seven-year maximum on all new contracts, while a solution on emergency goalies will be implemented. While the proposed CBA could be announced before Friday's NHL Draft at Los Angeles, it still would have to be ratified by the league and the NHL Players' Association. Under a new 84-game season, up from the current 82, each team would go from a maximum of eight preseason games to a maximum of four. The additional two regular-season games would allow teams to visit every building in the league each season, while making sure division rivals face each other four times. The seven-year limit on new contracts would be for players who re-sign with their current teams. Free agents going to new teams would be limited to six-year contracts. Those limits had been eight and seven years, respectively. Teams would also be required to employ a full-time emergency backup goalie who would travel with the club and can also participate in practice. In addition, all hockey-related revenue will be split equally between players and owners, while playoff teams will be forced to comply with the salary cap by eliminating the long-term injured reserve loophole. The current CBA expires after the 2025-26 season, meaning the four-year extension would run through September of 2030. --Field Level Media
