Skills Shortage Threatens Delivery of Housebuilding Targets

Councils are calling for more powers and funding to tackle the growing skills shortage in construction that they warn threatens the Government's pledge to build 275,000 affordable homes by 2020. New analysis from the Local Government Association shows the industry's forecast need for new recruits has risen by 54 per cent since 2013, yet the number of construction qualifications awarded through colleges, universities and apprenticeships has dropped by 10,000. Previous research from the association shows that between 16 and 25 per cent of forecast economic growth could by lost up to 2022 if employers cannot recruit the skills they need, which could include a loss of £24bn in output from construction. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.