New data published by the CSCS Alliance offers some genuinely encouraging news for the construction and fit-out sector: the number of cards issued to workers under the age of 25 rose by 8.8% between 2023 and 2025, reaching 94,444 — and this growth came at a time when overall card issuance across the industry actually fell by 1.3%.
Under-25s now account for 19% of all cards issued, up from 17.2% in 2023. More young people are choosing construction careers, and increasingly they are entering the sector qualified — cards issued at Skilled and Advanced Skilled level to under-25s grew by 7.8% over the period, with nearly one in six under-25 cards now issued at skilled or advanced skilled level.
What the data shows for our sector
For shopfitters and interior fit-out contractors, the Construction and Civil Engineering group — which covers occupations including carpentry, joinery, and bricklaying — issued 6,552 cards to under-25s in 2025. The proportion of young cardholders in this group rose from 12.3% in 2023 to 14.5%, continuing a positive direction of travel for the trades at the heart of our sector.
The National Audit Office recently found that up to 755,000 additional construction workers could be needed by 2030 to deliver the government’s commitments on housebuilding, infrastructure, and the Warm Homes Plan. Against that backdrop, a growing pipeline of young entrants is welcome — but as CSCS Group Chief Executive Sean Kearns noted on publication of the data, momentum alone is not enough. Ensuring young workers are supported from day one — with the right carding pathways, the right training, and the right development opportunities — is what turns encouraging statistics into a genuinely skilled, sustainable workforce.
What this means for NAS members
More young people are choosing trades, and the competition for skilled talent across carpentry, joinery, and specialist fit-out will only grow as the industry works to meet long-term demand. Supporting young workers from the outset and investing in their development is not just good for the industry — it is increasingly essential for businesses that want to secure their own pipeline of skilled people for the years ahead.
The NAS is committed to supporting members with exactly that. From our advocacy work on apprenticeship standards — including our representation on the Construction Assessment Reform Taskforce — to accessible, affordable training through the WOMA Academy, we are here to help our members develop the next generation of shopfitting talent.
👉 Read the full CSCS Alliance report: https://www.cscsgroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Under-25s-in-Construction-and-the-Built-Environment.pdf
