HALF of Britain’s young people feel pressured to go to university rather than start an apprenticeship, according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
A survey by the federation found that 18-24 year-olds are four times more likely to have experienced pressure to go to university to study for a degree than the over-55 age group.
The FMB has been campaigning for years for young people to consider a career or an apprenticeship in construction and point out that some tradespeople in the building industry earn much more than the average university graduate.
In the survey, exactly 50% of 18-24 year olds said they had felt pressurised by parents, teachers, friends, and society in general to go to university with the FMB stating that “this problem has become more pronounced”.
Other key results from the FMB’s research into people’s attitudes about university include the finding that the younger the generation, the more likely they were to have felt pressurised into attending university.
Only 12% of over-55 year-olds said they had felt pressured to go to university, with that figure increasing to 23% of 45-54 year-olds, 30% of 35-44 year-olds and 40% of 25-34 year olds.
The FMB is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing more than 8000 firms in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB’s research into attitudes took place in the week commencing June 4.
The survey was carried out by the research company OnePoll and the results are based on responses from 2000 home owners across the UK.
The Federation has frequently pointed to a skills shortage in the construction industry which also faces difficulty
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, described the results of the study as “deeply concerning”.
He said: “It is deeply concerning that half of the nation’s young people felt pressurised into going to university.
“Indeed, this new research shows a pattern: the younger the generation, the more likely they were to feel pressurised into studying for a degree.
“In the past, academic education was often favoured over vocational studies but this view was always questionable and is now outdated.
“We are urging students to give other career paths such as vocational training and apprenticeships serious consideration.
“A construction apprenticeship can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding career.
“Our recent research showed that the average university graduate in England earns £32,000 a year whereas your average bricklayer or roofer is earning £42,000 a year.”
Berry concluded: “The construction industry is facing a severe skills shortage and it’s therefore of utmost importance that more young people join the sector. We know that nearly all of the key trades have become harder to recruit in the second quarter of this year compared to the previous three months.
“But construction isn’t just mud and boots, there are careers of all kinds up for grabs including engineering and quantity surveying.
“The only way we can guarantee enough skilled construction workers in the future is by attracting more young people into the sector.”
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