Skills deficit reaching new highs

Shortages in construction labour are now at their worst level since 2005, it has been advised, according to the latest quarterly survey.

The study from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) found that 53 per cent of firms questioned said they had problems in hiring employees and sub-contractors over the past three months, a rise of 13 per cent on the first quarter of the year.

This is despite 40 per cent of firms saying their workload was higher in comparison to Q1, building.co.uk has reported.

"What this survey reveals is that yet again our education system needs to be refocused to enable young people to have the skills which the UK is so badly lacking," advised FMB external affairs director Brian Berry.

This weekend saw Labour MP Alan Simpson, reacting to the recent floods across the country on the BBC's Money Box programme, suggest that builders cover the cost of insurance for a property for up to 20 years after its original construction date.


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