Construction skills shortage ‘hampering growth’

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Construction Market Survey has concluded that the skills shortage is set to continue and predicted that it will hamper growth and push up wages in the sector.   

RICS found that bricklayers and quantity surveyors were in particularly short supply, with 62% and 60% of survey respondents having difficulty finding such workers with the right experience and qualifications.

A shortage of skilled workers was reported by 66% of construction professionals to be the most significant barrier to growth in the final quarter of 2015.

Sally Speed, Future Talent Director at RICS,said: ‘’The construction skills crisis is slowing growth in a sector that is vital to UK plc. Unless Government looks to address the problem urgently, some of its key housing and infrastructure programmes could soon face crippling delays and spiralling costs.”

She called on the Government to deliver a new skills strategy that went further than just increasing the number of apprenticeships, but also insisted that major players in the industry should do more to tackle the shortage.

“Employers need to take the lead in improving skill levels, providing more vocational pathways to work and actively engaging with our country’s schools and colleges,” Ms Speed added.

A net balance of 33% of respondents from the survey were still seeing an increase in the number of new projects during the final quarter, with the private commercial and private housing sectors continuing to be the key drivers of construction activity.

Kalcrest Site Services helps construction contractors to deal with the skills shortage by supplying experienced, reference-checked trades, engineers, site managers and labourers for projects on a short or long-term basis.

Call us on 01709 720348 or contact us via info@kalcrest.co.uk for more information about our recruitment services.