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kills shortages have hit their highest level
since 2008 with 54% of firms reporting insufficient numbers of quantity
surveyors available to meet current workloads.
Figures in the latest RICS UK Construction
Market Survey Q2 2014 show private housing, commercial and industrial sectors
driving strong growth across the whole of the UK.
But a shortage of white and blue collar
workers is a real threat to recovery.
The survey showed that 59% of respondents
reported shortages of bricklayers and 51% reported a shortage of managerial
workers.
One contractor told the Enquirer: “The
shortage of QSs is critical but it’s pretty much the same across all the
construction professions.
“We can’t get enough project managers and
commercial managers while estimators seem to be almost extinct.
“The pay we are offering is going up rapidly
but the real problem is simply finding these people.”
Across the whole of the UK, a net balance of
60% of survey respondents expect employment to rise over the next 12 months.
Alan Muse, RICS Director of Built
Environment, said: “The UK construction market is mirroring the natural
consequence of a rise in demand after five subdued years.
“The upsurge in housing demand is creating
pressure across an industry which failed to invest in attracting new talent or
in the training of existing employees at the height of the economic downturn
and this in turn is creating similar effects among material supply.
“The good news is that there is reason for
optimism, with workloads, profits and employment all forecast to deliver growth
over the next 12 months and it is now the responsibility of industry to invest
in training and technology to ensure it capitalises on these opportunities.”
Source: Construction Enquirer
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