Builders warn UK skills shortages could halt housebuilding and new infrastructure
A leading industry group has said that a skills crisis in the building industry threatens to undermine the government’s housebuilding initiatives.
According to a new report from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), 60 per cent of small construction firms say they are struggling to hire bricklayers, compared to 49 per cent just three months ago.The FMB also said that more than half of firms struggle to hire carpenters.
FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “If the skilled labour isn’t available the government’s ambitions for home ownership won’t be realised.”
Adding that major infrastructure projects are also at risk due to the skills shortage, Berry said: “We urgently need to boost our workforce by convincing people…to return to our industry or join us for the first time.”