Checkatrade Boss Warns Of Shortage Of Skilled Trade Workers

A shortage of skilled trade workers has developed as European Union migrants leave the UK and demand for home improvements rises, the founder of Homeserve has said. Chief executive Richard Harpin said the shortages were "pretty bad" across the country, not just in construction but in other trades too. He wants the government to put more trades on its jobs shortage list. The Home Office said employers should invest in UK workers. Mr Harpin, whose company also operates Checkatrade, told BBC Radio Four's Today programme he believed shortages were being caused by "mainly EU migrant workers going home". Read more on the BBC website.

Checkatrade boss warns of shortage of skilled trade workers - BBC News

UK Construction Sector Loses 46% Of Skilled EU Workers

The UK construction sector has lost 46% of its skilled EU workers, according to research by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, as Brexit and Covid-19 lead to staff shortages. New research reveals that in 2019, a total of 113,000 EU-born professionals worked in the UK’s skilled construction and building trade. That’s a 46% decrease from previous ONS data, which listed 208,000 skilled EU workers. Construction industry experts now warn that the exodus of skilled EU workers is the result of Brexit as well as Covid-19 and requires immediate Government attention to avoid staff shortages. Read more on the pbctoday website.

https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/hr-skills-news/skilled-eu-workers/87732/

Renaissance In Council House Building Needed

Four million working people will need access to some type of affordable housing even if the country achieves full employment by 2024, new research published by the Local Government Association shows. Widespread demand for affordable homes will be much higher should the country fail to train millions to take the higher skilled and higher paid jobs that are projected to be created by 2024, the analysis reveals. The LGA said the economic uncertainty facing housebuilders following the UK's vote to leave the European Union could make it difficult for private developers to rapidly build enough homes on their own. Read more on the LGA website.

Deal Will Lead to Thousands of New Housebuilding Jobs

Tens of thousands of new housebuilding jobs and apprenticeships will be up for grabs for years to come under a deal struck between ministers and the industry. Government-led efforts have got Britain building – in the last year alone planning permission has been granted on 230,000 new homes and private housebuilding starts are at their highest for 7 years. But leading housebuilders have made clear that a lack of skilled labour is one of the key problems facing their industry, and that they need a range of building skills as well as site managers, surveyors, planners and designers. The plan will ensure young Brits leaving school or our Armed Forces benefit from this turn-around but it will also help former builders to consider a return to the industry. Read more on the CLG website.