Builder shortages 'at an all-time high'

Recruitment shortages in the construction industry have been at an all-time high since 2005, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said.

The FMB has cited its most recent survey on the subject as back-up, finding that more than half of its members were short on employees in the fields of bricklaying, carpentry and plastering.

Government efforts at getting Britons into the construction industry are not as comprehensive as those aimed at expanding the reach of higher education, with the industry suffering as a result, the Federation added.

"The fundamental problem is that we're not training enough people to become qualified builders. We're not providing enough incentive to encourage people to go into the building industry," said FMB director of external affairs Brian Berry.

"[The profession] is popular, very popular but it's not growing at a rate that is meeting the demand.

"There's quite high unemployment among graduates and actually a recent survey illustrated that the wages can be quite low compared to those with a trade who are earning good money," Mr Berry added.


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