A total of 167,000 young people began a training course for construction industry jobs in 2014/15. However, just 18,000 secured a building trade apprenticeship.
The figures also revealed that on average, only 12% out of 150,000 students who begin a course will gain an apprenticeship.
UCATT said as a result, government money in funding these students is "being poured down the drain".
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The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) said the industry requires 46,400 new entrants every year for the next five years to solve the current skills crisis.
However, Acting General Secretary Brian Rye said despite the shortage, employers are failing to take on apprentices.
"I'm horrified by these figures. What a waste of talent and Government money, to take these young people through a course and then have them ignored by the construction industry," he said.
"We have a well-documented skills shortage in the construction industry and we have major constructors failing to take on apprentices. And yet hundreds of thousands of young people who want to work in the industry, who have taken the first step into the industry by taking a course – are just left on the scrap heap.
"UCATT is calling on the major constructors in this country to make contact with these colleges, meet the students and start giving the best ones a chance in the industry."
(LM)
