CITB Finds Self-Employment in Construction Fell 9 Points to 33% by 2025

2 articles · Updated · constructionnews.co.uk · Aug 20

A survey of 3,611 workers found self-employment in construction dropped to 33% in 2025 from 42% in 2022, while direct employment rose to 59% from 48%—its highest share since 2012.
CITB said the shift may reflect employers seeking a more stable workforce and workers wanting greater job security as living costs and house prices climbed, even though temporary and self-employed work remains common in project-based construction.
The report also found workers were less willing than two to three years ago to change roles, take on more responsibility, travel long distances or formally upskill, which CITB said could limit skills transfer across projects.
The findings are disputed by official datasets: the ONS Labour Force Survey showed self-employment rising to 39% in March 2026 from 37% in March 2022, while separate Workforce Jobs data showed it falling to 28% from 32%.
Methodology remains a key caveat—researchers could interview workers at only 53% of visited sites worth £250,000 or more—and CITB said the results would shape more place-based regional skills strategies.