The talent shortage in UK trade sectors is getting worse. While job demand surges across the electrical sector, the apprenticeship system that should be feeding these trades is failing to deliver, according to new data.
The ‘Apprenticeship Gap Report’ found that the electrical trade faces the most severe deficit across all sectors analysed, with a 227:1 ratio representing a gap of just over 9,600 unfilled positions.
The research, created by power tool accessories specialist DART Tool Group, analysed data from the Department for Education, the Office of National Statistics (ONS), and job board site Reed across six UK trade sectors, revealing where the skills crisis is most severe, why training pathways are under strain, and what strategic actions employers can take to strengthen their future workforce.
Across all trades analysed, there are just 809 apprenticeship openings to fill over 86,000 current job vacancies, a ratio of 106 jobs competing for every single apprenticeship place.
Top Electrical Apprenticeships, by Deficit
| Deficit | Apprenticeships 2024-2025 | |||
| Trade | Job openings per completer | Starts Year-on- Year % difference | Starts 24/25 v 21/22 | Completion Rate |
| Electrical Building Services Engineering | 281 | 0% | 35.3% | 26% |
| Electrical Engineer | 256 | -33.3% | 0% | 50% |
| Installation & Maintenance Electrician | 77 | -10.7% | -10.5% | 39% |
| Electrician | 63 | -16.7% | Low | Low |
Hardest hit within the electrical sector are in Electrical Building Services, with 281 job openings for every one apprentice that qualifies.
Although apprenticeship starts have grown 35% since 2021/2022, low completion rates of just 26% in the past year mean the surge in interest has not yet converted into the skilled workforce needed, leaving a persistent gap between demand and supply.
A similar pattern follows Electrical Engineering roles, which had 256 vacancies per apprentice completer, and starts declining year-on-year by 33%. However, completion rates are somewhat higher, with 50% of apprentices completing their programmes in the last year.
Installation & Maintenance Electricians face a smaller deficit at 77:1, but starts have declined year-on-year by 11% and completion rates for the 2024/2025 intake remain modest at 39%.
While broadly defined Electrician positions have fewer jobs per apprentice opening (63:1), starts overall have dropped 16% year-on-year, coupled with persistently low completion rates. Combined, this indicates the trade is persistently facing limited interest and uptake, which may threaten the skilled pipeline.
This comes as the UK’s industrial and commercial electricity demand is forecast to rise by around 10% between 2024 and 2030, yet the electrical workforce has already shrunk by 26% since 2018 – with projections indicating a further fall of up to 32% by 2038.
Fewer than a third of apprentices complete their programmes, suggesting an inefficient and costly training pipeline. Within the electrical industry, the report’s data shows that less than two in five (38%) apprentices completed their programmes on average in 2024/2025, a notable drop from the 53% that completed the previous year.
However, the exceptionally high completion rate in 2022/2023 for the electrical sector, likely driven by rising demand to support the Net Zero transition, shows that targeted demand can boost retention.
| Trade | Completion Rate 24/25 | Completion Rate 23/24 | Completion Rate 22/23 | Completion Rate 21/22 |
| Electrical | 38% | 53% | 90% | 51% |
Ryan Paterson, Managing Director at DART Tool Group, said:
“The findings from our ‘Apprenticeship Gap Report’ have demonstrated that, with a stronger, more effective apprenticeship system and active encouragement and promotion of trade industry jobs, the risk of a widening skills gap can be reduced.
“The UK’s electrical sector is facing some of the toughest shortages in recent years, with our data finding a deficit of 227:1. By partnering with local colleges, addressing misconceptions about trade roles, and providing flexible on-site learning, businesses can gradually fill the positions needed to meet the ambitious housebuilding targets.
“Bridging the labour market gap demands smarter workforce planning, better training frameworks, and professional-grade site tools that enable apprentices to complete their programmes, master technical skills, and build a stronger and more confident workforce without delaying projects further.”
Methodology
Using the Department for Education’s official statistics for 2021/2022 to 2024/2025, DART Tool Group examined apprenticeship starts, enrolments, and achievements across Construction, Planning and the Built Environment, and Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies sectors.
Live apprenticeship openings were captured from official government portals across regions, analysing a total of 809 apprenticeship roles. Job vacancy data was sourced from Reed and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to calculate demand across each sector, highlighting the number of roles currently unfilled and regional variations in labour shortages.
