And worse is still to come perhaps?
"The impact of the recession on the construction industry has already been devastating, with hundreds of thousands of jobs lost and people with key skills leaving the industry" - that one single point, is going to be the key-issue on any recovery and it's high time the industry paid a little respect for us tradesmen (and Women) who have studied hard to get through their various apprenticeships to find themselves now out of work. Without us, the industry is doomed, like it or not, without skills it won't be done, any Architect will tell you that it's one thing to design and draw a building, but without skilled trades, it can't be built. Manufacturing capacity has also been severely reduced and the lack of skills and capacity will be a serious constraint on the pace at which the industry can, if it ever does, recover.
Other key aspects of these latest forecasts are:
- Offices construction to fall by 50% in less than two years.
- Retail new build to fall by 42% by the end of 2010.
- Rail construction to increase almost threefold by 2013.
- Industrial construction in 2011 to be worth less than half its value in 2007.
Not very promising is it, we need to forget all of the onerous and pointless 'spin' that's flying about and accept the fact that the Construction Industry ( apart from the rail sector) is at an all time low experience and trades-wise, yet many are leaving - why do you think that is, I know the answer - do you?
Where's my JJ??