CSCS Smart Check Data Records Younger and More Highly-Skilled Entrants to UK Construction Workforce

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) published new data suggesting shifts in the make‑up of the UK construction workforce, with a larger proportion of young people entering the industry and a growing proportion of on-site workers operating at skilled and advanced levels.

Cardholder data shows that in 2025, more than one in four (25.16%) CSCS cards are now held by individuals under the age of 30. This is up from just 17% in 2021 – marking an eight-percent increase in the share of 20-29-year-olds holding CSCS cards in just four years.

Whereas the prevailing data highlights the concern that fewer young people are choosing careers in construction, this new insight might prove that there is appetite for more young people seeking skills‑based, AI‑resilient roles offering clear progression routes if there is the funding opportunities to leverage this audience.

CSCS data also shows an uptick of skilled workers across the industry. Analysis of verified card scan data from the CSCS Smart Check API shows a clear change in skills mix across construction sites. When records began in 2023, just 27% of cards scanned belonged to skilled and advanced workers. By 2025, that figure had increased to over 39%.

Unlike traditional workforce surveys, Smart Check API data provides a real‑time view of workers on site based on card scan behaviours, providing an accurate picture of workforce composition as it happens. The findings suggest that more people arriving on site today are qualified, experienced and operating at higher skill levels than they were just a few years ago. The industry continues to develop its focus on competence to ensure a skilled workforce.

www.cscs.uk.com