300,000 construction jobs in danger, RICS warns

At least 300,000 jobs could be lost over the next few years unless the government brings forward projects.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has warned that new orders in the industry have fallen by more than a third in recent months and will fall further.

Bringing forward planned construction and infrastructure projects would help to counter the sharp drop in activity, it said.

Government statistics showed that the number of people working in the construction industry fell by 17,000 – or almost 1% - in the year to June.

RICS warned that employment could fall by 14% - with about 300,000 – job losses if something is not done.

The government has been urged to bring forward plans to renovate schools, upgrade railways, build new hospitals and homes and reconsider shelved transport schemes, reported the Metro.

RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said: “The economic downturn will hit construction professionals, including quantity surveyors and project managers, plasterers, bricklayers and carpenters.

“Bringing forward capital funding for vital projects will have the advantage of delivering much needed housing and infrastructure but will also go some way to preventing an employment crisis in the industry.

“As the UK enters a recession it is essential that skills are not lost to the construction sector as people leave and retrain to take up other jobs.”