Entries and pass rates for the Construction and Built Environment GCSE have increased this year across the UK, with the subject’s popularity in Northern Ireland up by 71 per cent since 2019.
The latest annual GCSE results released this morning (21 August) revealed that 1,484 students sat the construction qualification in 2025, up from 1,463 last year. Northern Ireland accounted for 1,366 of these entries.
The overall pass rate (grades 4/C and above) rose from 76.3 per cent to 80.7 per cent, with 99.3 per cent achieving at least a grade 1/G.
Among all UK candidates, girls outperformed boys again this year, with 48 per cent achieving a grade 7/A on the construction course compared with 27.3 per cent of male students.
Michael McAuley, interim director of qualifications at the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA), said: “With over 2 million people employed in the construction sector across the UK, including 70,000 in Northern Ireland, CCEA recognises the importance of the sector to our economy through our Construction and the Built Environment qualification,” he said.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) reacted to today’s results by calling for clearer careers advice and greater focus on technical routes to construction careers.
Its latest research found that 67 per cent of 16-24-year-olds had a positive view of the industry, but 47 per cent said construction was not included in school career guidance.
David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs at the CIOB, warned that the UK’s infrastructure and climate targets could be at risk unless more young people entered the industry.
“With demand for skilled workers in construction continuing to rise, there’s never been a better time to consider a career in this rewarding industry,” he said.
Barnes added that parents also viewed construction careers favourably, with nearly 80 per cent saying they would support their child entering the sector.
Just under half of respondents to the CIOB survey favoured apprenticeships over university due to concerns about debt and job security.