The Business Journals · 19 Oct, 20:42 · Business briefing

Power Design construction VP, a 40 Under 40, on skilled labor shortage

A vice-president at Power Design, recently recognised in the 40 Under 40 list, highlights the critical skilled labour shortage affecting the construction sector.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

2.7xfaster promotion for certified professionals

71%of leaders prefer candidates who upskill continuously

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A vice-president at Power Design, recently recognised in the 40 Under 40 list, highlights the critical skilled labour shortage affecting the construction sector. Speaking to The Business Journals, the executive emphasises the growing gap between industry demand and available qualified workers. This report underscores systemic challenges within infrastructure development, where recruitment difficulties threaten project timelines and operational efficiency. The commentary serves as a stark reminder of the human capital constraints currently shaping the built environment. Professionals in construction and related fields must acknowledge this deficit as a primary operational hurdle, influencing both strategic planning and day-to-day execution across the industry.

Employer demand for Building Information Modelling skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must adapt to a market where technical expertise is scarce and highly valued. This shortage elevates the worth of certified tradespeople and engineers who can bridge the skills gap. If you work in construction, focus on mastering digital tools like Building Information Modelling to increase your productivity and appeal. Smart professionals will upskill immediately, targeting certifications that prove competence in modern construction methodologies. You should also develop leadership capabilities to manage smaller, highly skilled teams effectively. Consider roles that integrate technology with traditional building practices, as hybrid skills are increasingly rare. By positioning yourself as a versatile expert who understands both physical construction and digital management, you secure greater job security and career advancement opportunities in a constrained labour market.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Building Information Modelling, Project Management, Engineering and Leadership — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.