Recruiting, training, and retaining enough skilled workers to deliver the infrastructure and built environment necessary for a sustainable future has been described as a "critical challenge" for Scotland's construction sector.

In an effort to address the skills shortage, the Construction Accord Transformation Board has launched the Construction Workforce Mission, a new initiative aimed at tackling this industry-wide skills shortage head-on.

The Board confirmed that the issue is not only a numbers problem but a skills challenge, requiring new entrants and the current workforce to develop the right competence through knowledge, training, and experience. This is deemed essential for building a professional, future-ready workforce capable of supporting Scotland's net zero goals.

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The initiative is built upon sector insights gathered from a summer 2025 survey by the Construction Accord's Skills and Workforce Group. The new Mission is designed to focus attention on four key areas:

• Recognise best practice in recruitment, training, and retention models across the sector.

• Champion clear workforce models that define where workers are employed and trained to develop essential skills.

• Encourage employer responsibility in building the workforce needed for the sector's future.

• Inspire collaboration among industry stakeholders and public sector partners to create the conditions and training support that underpin workforce growth.

Elaine Ellis, Skills Planning Manager (Construction and Net Zero) at Skills Development Scotland and co-chair of the CLF's Skills Working Group, underlined the need for unity: "The challenge we face cannot be addressed by any single group or organisation. The collective responsibility sits firmly with employers, industry stakeholders and public sector partners."

The launch marks a decisive step for the sector, highlighting the need for sector-wide collaboration to ensure Scotland's construction workforce is skilled, sustainable, and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.