Skills crisis in construction continues, says CIOB

The skills crisis in the construction industry is set to continue this year, a new survey by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has revealed.

Shortages of middle and senior managers in the sector are not being filled by migrant workers, who mostly work as general labourers, the body stated.

And 93% of the firms it questioned agreed that there is a lack of skilled workers available in the UK.

Following warnings from the Chartered Insurance Institute that the financial services sector is set to see a worsening skills situation this year, the body warned that the construction skills crisis will deteriorate due to an increased demand for new buildings.

'Despite the credit crunch, 70% of the respondents believe that there will be an increase in construction demand in 2008 together with a worsening supply of middle and senior management,' Deputy Chief Executive of the CIOB, Michael Brown, told Online Recruitment magazine.

Mr Brown added that more apprenticeships must be offered, as only 8,500 out of 50,000 applicants were accepted onto construction apprenticeships last year.