A survey conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reveals that 75% of UK tradespeople believe that there is a shortage of skilled workers entering their industry.
The trades worst impacted by the shortage are bricklayers (87%), plumbers (85%), and electricians (79%) .
As a result, over half (53%) of survey respondents said they have had to turn down jobs at least once a month, an increase from 45% the previous year. The leading reason for turning down jobs – reported by half (50%) of van drivers – is simply not having enough time to take on more work.
A shortage of skilled tradespeople entering the workforce creates challenges for businesses and puts workers under increasing pressure to meet demand for their skills. Almost a third (31%) stated the shortage of skilled personnel as one of the biggest pressures facing their business in 2026, and 24% said they are understaffed.
Today, new government reforms come into effect, including fully-funded apprenticeship training for SMEs to make schemes more accessible for all businesses. This is expected to open up tens of thousands of new opportunities for under-25s entering trades, according to Government estimations.
Richard Welch, Technical Training & Development Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Continued investment in trades is essential to support people entering the industries, at a time when workers are facing increased pressures and demand for their skills. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ own apprenticeship scheme offers tailored programmes to help candidates access training and develop their skills; we’d urge young people to consider an apprenticeship as a great launchpad into a whole range of rewarding careers.”
For more information on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, please visit: www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk
