Young people today have a lot to contend with. There used to be an assumption that each generation would be better off than the one before it, but according to an investigation by the Resolution Foundation published last year, this is no longer the case. When it comes to housing and the labour market progress has stalled. While unemployment among young people is relatively low, pay growth since the economic downturn has been weak: weekly earnings for millennials (born 1981-2000) who have turned 30 are less than when generation X (born 1966-80) hit the same age. Millennials are also only half as likely to own their home by age 30 as baby boomers (born 1946-65) were by the same age. In short young people are bearing the brunt of the gig economy’s rise, and when saving for a deposit for a property now takes the average 20-something 18 years, “generation rent” looks here to stay.

That’s the general picture of the country’s younger population, but how are young people working in construction faring? Our guest editors wanted to find out what this cohort thinks of the employment opportunities within the industry and so last month Building launched an under-30s perception survey. 

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