Updated infrastructure pipeline highlights workforce demand for coming decade

The government has published an updated national infrastructure pipeline intended to give industry greater visibility of future projects and the workforce required to deliver them. The latest update to the pipeline, overseen by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), sets out 734 planned projects representing around £718bn of public and private investment over the next decade.

image: LTC

For the first time, the pipeline also includes detailed analysis of the workforce and skills required to deliver that investment, providing regional and sector-level estimates intended to help companies plan recruitment, training and capacity.

Delivering the programme is expected to require an annual average infrastructure and construction workforce of between 621,000 and 697,000 people over the next two years, rising to between 629,000 and 706,000 over the next five years. Construction roles account for more than two-thirds of this demand.

The pipeline covers projects in sectors including transport, energy, water, health and education, and is designed to provide a ten-year forward look at major infrastructure schemes worth more than £25m in economic infrastructure or £15m in social infrastructure. Energy projects account for the largest share of planned investment over the next decade, with around £365bn identified across the sector.

According to the government, the value of projects included in the pipeline has increased compared with the version published in July 2025. Officials said the change reflects new and updated data from a wider range of providers, including several mayoral combined authorities.

Announcing the update, James Murray, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said, “We have the right economic plan to build a stronger and more secure economy. Transforming this country’s infrastructure is a vital part of that plan and will create high-quality jobs right across the country.”

Becky Wood, chief executive of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, said, “Transforming UK infrastructure needs a three-way collaboration between government, investors, and industry to succeed. The Infrastructure Pipeline is the foundation on which this relationship thrives, and this update now gives investors more granular information about forthcoming investable opportunities they told us they need for their strategic planning.

“Our industry partners across the sector can only invest in new skills, capacity and technology with the right data to assess what the Pipeline means in the delivery context. By adding new information on what future workforce demand looks like they can plan with confidence, and the Pipeline is also better placed to support the investment government is already making to address the construction skills gap.”

Milda Manomaityte, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), said, “This updated pipeline marks a significant step forward, giving industry and investors the clarity and certainty ACE members have been asking for. Stronger commercial metrics, richer regional data, and clearer investment models are vital to our sector and provide the confidence for ACE members to plan, invest and drive growth right across the UK.”

Alex Vaughan, chief executive of Costain, said, “Today’s update of the Infrastructure Pipeline sends a powerful signal about the UK’s long-term infrastructure ambitions. With investment clearly mapped out, business leaders have greater visibility over future projects that will help create a more prosperous, resilient and decarbonised UK.

The opportunity now is to ensure this ambition goes hand-in-hand with long-term workforce planning so that the industry has the right skills and people in place for the successful delivery of critical national infrastructure.”