Construction skills in short supply

Citation

(1999), "Construction skills in short supply", Education + Training, Vol. 41 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.1999.00441hab.007

Construction skills in short supply

Construction skills in short supply

Keywords: Construction industry, Recruitment, Skills

More than 100,000 skilled workers are urgently needed in the construction industry, according to the People Report published by Contract Journal.

The report says that, to attract the new recruits, the industry has to make working conditions much better, offer improved training packages, boost salaries and "sell" the positive side of working in construction -- Britain's largest single industry.

Britain's 1.4 million construction workers are not rewarded as well as many in other industries. Their welfare facilities on site are often poor and this can often be exacerbated by working outside in harsh conditions. That is why there is currently a shortfall of 5,000 craft training places being taken up and why the number of students registering for construction-related degrees has dropped by a third.

"Britain's construction industry is heading for a real crisis if it cannot recruit enough well-trained people," said Geoff Wright, chairman of National Construction Week. "We have got to address the issue of working conditions and pay levels and we have got to promote the good things the industry has to offer.

"For example, people can get a real buzz out of designing and constructing a major landmark building. It is a fast-changing, challenging career, where there is a great deal of innovation taking place. We have got to sell this to more bright young people."