Overview

The latest Local Skills Scotland 2026 report shows that, while Scotland is expected to have sufficient construction workforce capacity overall between 2026 and 2030, workers and skills are not evenly distributed across the country. Some areas face significant recruitment challenges, while major future investment could create demand on an unprecedented scale.

Key Findings

The report highlights that proposed energy infrastructure projects in the Highlands and Islands, including offshore wind, transmission networks, pumped storage hydro and green hydrogen developments, could more than double demand for construction workers in the area if they proceed as planned. This would increase construction workforce demand across Scotland by around 12%.

Scotland can't rely on importing labour to meet future demand. Research shows that 99% of construction workers employed in Scotland both live and work in Scotland, while workers typically travel shorter distances than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.

This means that future workforce requirements are likely to be met primarily by developing local people through training and apprenticeships rather than relying on workers moving from other parts of the UK. The findings strengthen the case for early workforce planning and closer alignment between investment plans, training provision and future labour demand.

Next Steps

The report recommends greater collaboration between industry, government, training providers and stakeholders to understand future workforce requirements and to ensure training provision matches employer demand. This reinforces the importance of Workforce North, the collaborative initiative established to help ensure the region has the people and skills needed to support Scotland's energy transition and economic growth ambitions

Meeting future demand will require sustained investment in workforce development, training provision and attractive career pathways to ensure the next generation of construction workers is ready to deliver Scotland's ambitions.

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