Current levels of building activity 'demand more workers'

The demands of the construction industry and current levels of building activity are leading to the need for more workers, according to a trade association.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said that current building levels are the highest they have been for some 60 years, which is creating a need for more workers.

"We need 87,500 new people to go into the construction sector every year from now until 2011 to meet current demands. Britain is experiencing the highest level of building activity it has seen since the end of the Second World War," Mr Berry said.

The director of external affairs suggested that the demand for workers has been somewhat lessened by the use of migrant workers, but added that there is a "serious skills shortage" within the construction industry.

Founded over 60 years ago, the FMB is the largest trade association within the UK building industry.

The FMB has been campaigning for a cut in VAT from 17.5 per cent to five per cent as the "only real sustainable answer" to cutting carbon emissions.


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