1m construction workers needed to meet housebuilding target

A report by recruitment specialist Randstad suggests that British construction needs to increase their workforce by one million by 2021 if we are to meet current house-building targets.

The study follows the recent relaxing of planning laws and ambitious claims by the government to build one million new homes in the next 5 years.

The report calculated that there were just shy of one million people working within the housebuilding trades and professions in Britain today, who are aiming to complete 148,000 new homes this year.

Randstad's managing director, Owen Goodhead said “Doubling the rate of house building will mean at least doubling the workforce involved too.”

“The housing crisis is a skills crisis too. That means a practical challenge for workers as much as it is a conceptual issue for politicians.”

“Employers will need to prepare as carefully as planning departments, and we need to lay the foundations of a skilled workforce as much as we need foundations in concrete.”

Randstad also identified a need for 27,000 bricklayers, 89,000 plumbers and 100,000 carpenters.

The FMB's chief executive, Brian Berry commented "It’s vital that we change the perception of what a career in construction entails, so that we can start to attract more young people into our industry and redress the loss of skilled people we experienced during the economic downturn.”

“At the same time we need to boost the number of construction apprentices. Micro companies employing fewer than ten employees train around 50% of all construction apprentices which means the Government needs to create a business environment that allows such companies to thrive.”