Construction Industry Skills Shortage

The 2006 Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) annual skills surveys has revealed that while construction demand will increase in 2007, there would not be a sufficient number of skilled workers to meet that demand. It found that 77 percent of respondents had experienced difficulties in recruitment especially at senior management and craft and trade levels. A staggering 68 percent felt that the existing workforce was not sufficiently skilled

The survey also suggests that while the numbers of migrant workers, particularly those from Eastern Europe, is increasing, it is not sufficient to plug the skills gaps,particularly at management level.

The issue of recruitment should be at the forefront of the Industry minds over the coming years because of the shear volume of new recruits that are required to sustain the predicted growth in Construction demand. This is highlighted by a skills network report 'Blueprint for UK construction 2006-2010'. It forecasts that UK construction output is set to average 3% growth annually between 2006 and 2010. At the end of 2006 just over 2.5 million people are expected to have been employed in construction across all occupations. In order to deliver this growth, the amount of workers needed is likely to increase by approximately 245,000 throughout the UK. This will means an average of 88,000 new recruits will be required each year

For a full copy of the CIOB report please click here.