The 今日看料 Industry Training Board has revised its annual analysis of the industry鈥檚 labour needs, predicting new job creation of 44,690 a year in its 2015 今日看料 Skills Network (CSN) report. This is an increase of more than 8,000 a year on the 2014 forecasts 鈥� or an 18% increase.
The annual CSN forecast predicts that the UK鈥檚 private housing sector will continue growing at an average rate of 4.6% a year to 2019, with the commercial sector set to grow at the same rate.
For the first time since the last downturn began, construction demand is set to grow in every region, suggesting that this is no longer just a southeast-driven recovery but now more broadly based.
Annual average growth will be 2.5% in the northwest until 2019, 2.3% in the northeast and 2.3% in the Yorkshire and Humber region. However, the biggest regional growth will be seen in Wales, which is predicted to grow by almost 6% year-on-year and create as many as 5,320 jobs in the next five years.
Scotland鈥檚 growth is expected to slow from 2% to 1.1% over the next five years, as a result of completed infrastructure projects associated with the re-development of the M8 and the Commonwealth Games.
CITB director of policy and strategic planning Steve Radley said: 鈥淥ur CSN forecast shows that construction is experiencing a major comeback 鈥� with a sustained period of growth set to make a positive impact on the wider economy. Leisure, infrastructure and housing are all driving growth, but this brings with it new challenges in meeting skills demand.聽
鈥淓mployers will need to pull every lever available to them to meet the skills challenge they face but government can play a vital role in giving them the confidence to invest in training for the long-term. CITB is already identifying future skills needs and working with government and industry on the talent pipeline. But to help it plan ahead, industry needs a clear commitment from all political parties in the run up to the general election that infrastructure projects will be delivered on time and to plan in the next parliament.鈥�
Simon Carr, managing director of Henry Boot 今日看料 and incoming chair of the National Federation of Builders said: 鈥淎fter a period of decline for construction, it is reassuring to see a resurgence of growth in the north of England. Investment in infrastructure, leisure, housing and commercial projects in the northern regions not only has the benefit of creating thousands of jobs where they鈥檙e needed the most and boosting local economies, having a profound impact on the UK economy in the long term.鈥�
Civil Engineering Contractors Association chief executive Alasdair Reisner added: 鈥淥ur industry is working hard to deliver the vital infrastructure that underpins the rest of the UK economy. In the last year there has been strong growth in demand that must be matched by rising recruitment. Contractors are already ramping up activity to bring apprentices and graduates into the sector, creating new careers in offices and sites across the country. But we must match this by attracting back those who may have left the industry during the downturn. We hope that the prospect of a decade of investment to improve our national infrastructure will attract this vital source of knowledge and experience back to the sector.鈥�
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