Demand for construction workers close to 20-year high

Neil Sherreard, deputy chairman at Beard said: “The job market in construction is definitely opening up, as it is across the whole UK economy, and there is a movement of people around the industry.

“This is likely to be the result of a lot of projects which were on pause during the lockdown now coming back online. As confidence is returning quite simply there is a lot more work to do.

“However, the industry has lost people during the pandemic, which has led some to leave for opportunities outside of construction, and they have been waiting until now to do so.

“As an industry we have been talking about a skills shortage for decades now, which is why it’s more important than ever to attract young people into construction across a whole range of roles. That is exactly the conversation we’re having in partnership with City of Bristol College about the construction industry being seen as a first-choice career.

“In our view, those companies which have a strong culture of looking after their people and treating suppliers fairly with prompt payment - and have come out of the pandemic in good financial shape - will be the ones to attract the best candidates going forward.”

Published: 16 July 2021