The impact of modern methods of construction on the skills requirements for housing
Published 3 May 2019Overview
The objective of the research was to quantify how different levels of MMC adoption, focusing on panelised and volumetric off‑site systems, would affect the labour demand required to meet the UK's housing delivery ambitions (300,000 homes per year).
Using modelling across five delivery scenarios, the analysis demonstrates that increased MMC uptake can significantly reduce overall workforce growth requirements while shifting demand toward new skill sets in design, integration, manufacturing and on‑site assembly.
Key findings
Traditional delivery alone requires a 40% workforce increase by 2025–26—equivalent to 195,000 additional workers in homebuilding
Greater MMC adoption reduces additional labour needs, cutting the required workforce growth by between 12,000 and 37,000 workers depending on the scenario
Volumetric and panelised systems shift skill demand off‑site, increasing the need for manufacturing, logistics, digital design and coordination roles
On‑site labour becomes smaller but more technically skilled, with stronger requirements for integration, precision installation, site management and quality assurance
The transition will require upskilling the current workforce to manage hybrid systems where traditional and MMC approaches operate side by side
MMC uptake represents a major opportunity to reduce labour pressures, but only if training, competency frameworks and employer readiness keep pace.
Next steps
MMC could offer a pathway to delivering more homes with fewer labour constraints, but only if the industry invests in the right capabilities. CITB will continue working with government, training providers and employers to ensure the sector can meet emerging skills demands in all areas of construction that fall within it’s scope.
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