There’s no doubt the skills shortage in construction has been well documented. The demand for certain skills to fulfil large infrastructure and housing projects has never been more paramount, with delays now being talked about, unless the problem is alleviated. But could the problem become even more exacerbated with a Brexit?
Many people within the industry believe it would harm the situation even more, none more so than REC CEO Kevin Green, who has seen first-hand the extent of the skills shortage, “Our data indicates that some employers are increasing pay faster as the competition for skilled workers intensifies. The UK is close to full employment and building firms are already struggling to find the people needed for major infrastructure projects.”
REC’s survey found that 59% of construction recruiters believed a Brexit vote would make it more difficult to fill vacancies, while only 5% thought it would improve the situation. Just under a third said it would make no difference. Green said if Britain votes to leave the EU “there’s no doubt that recruitment for some construction roles will become even more of a challenge”.
David Thomas, chief executive of Barratt Developments, was very much in line with this view: “We would much prefer that the UK stays within the EU. We have a significant part of our labour force, particularly within the London market, coming from continental Europe – the free movement of labour in the European market is a positive from our point of view.” A vote to leave the EU would mean “even more pressure in terms of skills shortages”, he argued. “If you ask any housebuilder what their main challenge is, they say it’s labour availability.”
Two-thirds of the construction sector is backing continued EU membership, with more than half saying Brexit would lead to less foreign investment (60%) and drive up labour and material costs (55% and 53%), according to a survey by Building magazine.
u.
"Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora
torquent per conubia nostra,per inceptos himenaeos. Praesent dignissim ultrices
neque. Aliquam auctor congue nunc sed interdum. Praesent dignissim ultrices
neque. "