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Construction

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Overview

Work in construction and transform the face of Scotland. From the Wallace Monument to Glasgow Science Centre, the country owes every one of its most iconic landmarks to bricklayers, joiners, architects and civil engineers – just a few of the many rewarding careers this varied sector has to offer. 

Whether you’re working on site or behind a drawing board, choosing construction means contributing to Scotland’s heritage. If you enjoy practical work and have a knack for technical processes, this industry could be your perfect match. 

The industry now

  • In Scotland, 238,400 people work in the construction industry as of 2020, meaning the workforce has increased by over 68,000 since 2018 
  • The median advertised salary for jobs in this industry is £32,200 
  • Construction contributes £9,652m to the Scottish economy 
  • There are around 20,830 businesses operating in construction nationwide 

 

*Information provided by Oxford Economics, Burning Glass Technologies, and Scottish Enterprise

The future

Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the jobs market is constantly changing. All future figures are estimated:

  • The industry is expected to need around 25,200 jobs to be replaced or created between 2020 and 2023 
  • This is predicted to grow to 47,000 jobs between 2023 and 2030. 
  • Teamwork, budgeting and customer service are some of the skills that are in demand within this industry 

Jobs in this industry

Construction and building (45)

Engineering (6)

Administration, business and management (1)
Architect Architectural technologist Bricklayer Builders' merchant Building standards officer (local authority) Building surveyor Building technician Carpenter or joiner Carpet fitter or floor layer Cavity insulation installer Ceiling fixer Civil engineer Civil engineering technician Clerk of works Construction manager Construction operative Construction plant mechanic Construction plant operator Demolition operative Dry liner Electricity distribution worker General practice surveyor Glazier Land surveyor Landscape architect Leakage operative Minerals surveyor Painter and decorator Planning and development surveyor Plasterer Plumber Quantity surveyor Road worker Roofer Scaffolder Shopfitter Steeplejack or lightning conductor engineer Stonemason Structural engineer Technical surveyor Town planner Town planning support staff Water treatment worker Window fitter Architectural technician
Building services engineer Electrician Gas service technician Heating and ventilation engineer Refrigeration and air conditioning engineer Thermal insulation engineer
Health and safety adviser

More information

Go Construct: Find out more about what it's really like to work in construction - the jobs, the employers, and how to get in.
CITB: The training board for the construction industry. Find information on apprenticeships and work experience
Construction Scotland: Learn about the construction industry in Scotland from the national leadership body
The Civil Engineers Contractors Association: The body representing civil engineering contractors throughout the country
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): Get information on training and scholarships
The Scottish Building Federation: Find construction news from one of the voices of the industry
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre: An industry-led team linking together businesses, experts and the public sector
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: Professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property and construction