Shock research reveals extent of transport skills crisis

12 March 2008

Senior county officials urged a cross-industry drive to tackle the construction industry’s skills shortage, after a survey suggested that more than 12,000 extra professionals and technical staff were required annually.

The Construction Skills Network forecasts a need for 6% more construction professionals and technical staff, such as civil engineers, in response to an increase in infrastructure projects. Its survey showed the size of the problem afflicting the entire sector, and how it was affecting the whole of the UK, following ‘the most thorough analysis ever conducted’, according to Sir Michael Latham, chairman of the network.

By 2012, construction output will be almost one-third higher than at the start of the century, and the industry will need a workforce of 2.8M, including professionals, tradesmen and labourers. In 2007, infrastructure was already the fastest-growing construction sector, averaging 5.7% growth, and this is expected to continue, with projects in the pipeline such as Crossrail, the M25 widening, and the Olympic Park.

The number of new recruits for all construction workers – from civil engineers to labourers – in London is 14,930. But Construction Skills Network’s report highlights that there is a need for bigger percentage growth in new construction employees in a number of regions outside southern England.

Wales, where the biggest driver will be ‘labour-intensive’ housing maintenance, but which also has a ‘buoyant’ infrastructure sector, will require 14% more workers in total. Northern Ireland, where £5.6bn is due to be invested over five years on public infrastructure and buildings, needs 13% more construction workers by 2012.

Sir Michael said: ‘Now it is essential that we work with employers and training providers to help local people get the skills they need to fill local job vacancies,’ he said.

Richard Wills, president of the County Surveyors’ Society (CSS), said it was sensible to consider the whole industry, rather than just the transport sector.

‘We tend to focus on shortages in specific sub-sectors, be they transport, flood defence, or housing, but people nowadays like having the freedom to switch jobs.

‘We need to accept that someone might join a house-builder, or a quarrying company, and then decide they want to try something else. Rather than lose them to altogether, let’s say, “Have you thought about local government?”’

Meanwhile, the working group overseeing the Project Brunel study assessing workforce trends in specialist engineering roles was presented with the findings last week. Sue Stevens, the Institution of Highways & Transportation’s director of education, was pleased that the consultants had considered the demand and supply for very specific occupations. ‘We’ve not been basing our assertions on firm facts,’ she said.

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Shock research reveals extent of transport skills crisis

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