Ever Wondered why construction has difficulty in attracting bright youngsters? The CIOB thinks its recent research may provide an answer: poor career advice and a lack of focus in teaching invaluable ‘soft skills’.

More than 500 employers were asked to take part in the project undertaken by the Presidential Commission on Higher Education. Students and graduates were also asked to contribute.

Undergraduates said there was a lack of careers information and advice from schools. Universities were urged to adopt a strong focus on soft skills like teamworking and leadership which employers regard as crucial.

Employers noted that there were still problems in recruiting graduates to positions that matched their needs. Reasons included concerns over salary and training needs.

Michael Brown, CIOB deputy chief executive, said the study showed the shortfalls between the expectations of graduates and universities: “We need to start building the next generation of construction management programmes to reflect the needs of industry and career aspirations of young people.”

Source

Construction Manager