CIOB: Skills shortage will only get worse

The Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) has warned that construction still faces a shortage of skills, despite the relatively high availability of migrant labour.

The survey of 1,200 managers and directors, the majority of which work for large companies employing 500 people or more, showed that people possessing crafts or trades, as well as senior and middle management, are in demand. Migrant workers still mostly fill manual jobs.

Nine out of ten respondents said they thought that UK construction was still suffering from a skills shortage, while 83% found recruiting senior management difficult, and 84% found hiring middle management difficult.

CIOB deputy chief executive said: "Despite the current credit crunch, 70% of the respondents believe that there will be an increase in construction demand in 2008 together with a worsening supply of middle and senior management.

"The shortage of professionals and managers within the industry is reflected in many parts of the world. Areas such as the Middle East will be a continuing draw for UK talent, exacerbating the situation in the UK."