1 Million more construction workers needed – Experts say

Up to a million more construction workers are required in the UK in order to build the number of homes the country needs.

This is according to managing director of Randstad Construction, Property & Engineering Owen Goodhead, who said that if the rate of housebuilding doubles, the workforce will need to double at least as well, Sky News reports.

A report from the company has found that the UK needs 100,000 carpenters, 27,000 bricklayers and 80,000 plumbers, a study that has been released just as the government makes the move to realise its ambition of building a million houses by 2020, focusing on more affordable homes.

Mr Goodhead observed that not only is there a housing crisis, there’s also a skills crisis in the UK. “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,” he said.

Major building projects, possibly featuring reinforcing bar and other construction supplies, could be hindered by the country’s skills shortage, with construction output in August falling by 4.3 per cent compared to July.

This went against predictions that the month would see a one per cent rise, with analysts blaming the downturn in August on wet weather. However, the drop was part of a weakening trend that saw the sector experience its first yearly dip in output since the summer of 2013.

Rebar suppliers and others in the industry would do well to pay close attention to developments so they can make the required business decisions moving forward.