Construction Workers in Demand
There is demand for employees with trade skills from the British construction industry, according to the Chartered Institute of Building.
Research by the CIOB revealed that the majority of businesses in the construction sector are still looking for workers despite uncertainty surrounding the state of the British economy.
The organisation's fourth annual skills survey found that 72 per cent of respondents believe that there is a skills shortage in construction and more people need to take plumbing courses, electrical courses and commercial gas courses in order to fill the gap.
A large number of respondents felt that more needs to be done to encourage the introduction of an increasing number of apprentices into the construction sector as they represent the future of the industry.
The survey discovered that 67 per cent thought a lack of apprentices would exacerbate a skills shortage while 52 per cent believed that the current economic climate has resulted in a decline in apprentice recruitment.
Nearly half of respondents believe that more needs to be done to promote the benefits of plumbing courses, electrical courses and commercial gas courses to school children.
The survey found that respondents thought an insufficient education about construction at school-level was deemed to be as the second-biggest contributing factor to a skills shortage.
An ageing workforce was underlined by as the third-biggest threat to a worsening skills shortage as there was a lack of young employees to fill the gaps left by retiring tradesmen.
Michael Brown, CIOB Deputy Chief Executive, said: "Future investment for the industry is clearly essential. But it will be pointless if we do not have a skilled industry capable of delivering projects, and that means the industry must find ways of retaining, developing and recruiting its future human capital.
"Respondents called for apprenticeship and graduate schemes to be aimed specifically at the industry. This could suggest a lack of awareness, or relevance, of the current range of initiatives already on offer.
There was good news for the construction industry as the survey revealed that 74 per cent of respondents said they expected construction demand to either increase or remain the same in the next year.
More people will be needed to take plumbing courses, electrical courses and commercial gas courses in order to meet an expected increase in construction demand in the near future.
Chairman of 1st Action Plumbing Richard Clarke has advised student tradesmen not to take crash courses which promise an industry recognised qualification at the end of a short period of time.