This week in the Wylde blog, we’re touching on whether the 4 day week is something the construction industry should be considering. It’s a trending topic across newspapers and the internet at the moment as recent years have seen a huge decline in workers across the industry. As interior architecture experts and workplace consultancy specialists, this particular conversation speaks to us. Construction is one of those industries that touches everyone’s life, even if we don’t always think about it. From the homes we live in to the workplaces and schools we spend our days in, it’s at the heart of everything. But at the moment, much like other sectors too, the industry is facing a real crunch. There just aren’t enough people to meet demand, and the gap is only widening as older, experienced tradespeople retire and fewer younger workers are stepping in to take their place. Add to that the perception that construction is all long hours, tough conditions and little flexibility, and it’s easy to see why other industries are stealing the spotlight when it comes to attracting fresh talent.
That’s where the idea of a four-day week enters the conversation. At Wylde we really believe in hybrid working and flexible work models. We’ve seen it trialled successfully in office environments, where shorter weeks have boosted wellbeing, productivity and retention. In construction, the story is more complicated – projects need workboots on the ground, deadlines are unforgiving, and regulations around safety and noise make flexibility tricky. Still, the fact that it’s on the table at all is telling. Workers are asking for balance, and industries that find ways to deliver it – even if it looks a little different in practice – will find it easier to bring people in and keep them.
At Wylde, this feels very familiar territory. We work side by side with the construction industry and see first-hand how workplace culture, wellbeing and environment play such a huge role in attracting and retaining people. It’s not just about filling roles – it’s about creating conditions where people want to stay, where they feel proud of their work, and where they can see a career, not just a job. That could mean rethinking how sites are set up, designing smarter facilities, or helping shift the narrative so construction is seen as a modern, rewarding and forward-thinking sector.
The challenges are big, but so are the opportunities. Technology, new building methods, and fresh thinking about how people work are all on the horizon. The four-day week debate might not be a silver bullet, but it’s a catalyst for a bigger conversation about how construction can adapt, modernise and become an industry that people are excited to be part of. And that’s exactly the kind of conversation we love being involved in at Wylde – because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the spaces we help create, it’s about the people who bring them to life.
