FMB State of Trade Results: Quarter Three 2007

Nearly half (48%) of builders are reporting difficulties with recruiting labour, says Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its latest survey of members. Scotland is particularly badly affected with 84% of builders reporting difficulty in finding labour, followed by the North East at 67%, and the Eastern region at 63%. Northern Ireland is the best place to find construction labour with only 20% of builders reporting difficulty. Of all the trades, carpenters and joiners are the most difficult to recruit and hire.

Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB says,

'The ongoing problem about finding enough skilled workers in the construction sector reflects the strength of the construction market. Small construction firms are reporting an increase in activity, which merely exacerbates the already growing demand for skilled construction labour. It’s worrying that the Government is still failing to meet its own targets to train more apprentices in the construction sector.

Berry continued,

'We need a sea change in attitudes towards training young people to learn new trades. Vocational training needs to be given the weighting and value as those wanting an academic education. Until this happens Britain will continue to suffer an on-going skills shortage which is affecting the overall performance of the economy, not least the impact this will have on getting the Olympics completed on time by 2012.'

Web: http://www.fmb.org.uk