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/

Housebuilders Want ‘Broken Planning System’ Fixed

One in three housebuilders want the ‘broken’ planning system fixed to boost construction activity, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the government’s consultation on the Planning White Paper. The FMB asked SME housebuilders what was the one thing that the government could do to help them reach pre-coronavirus levels of activity and one in three singled out reform of the planning system. This figure emerges against a background of a marked decline in the number of small housebuilders. In the 1980s 40% of all new homes were built by SME housebuilders but that figure has now plunged to just 12%. Read more on the pbctoday website.

https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/planning-white-paper/84603/

Over 2,800 Social Housing Repossessions So Far In 2019

The latest statistics from the government reveal many social housing repossessions have occurred across England and Wales during the first half of this year (January – June 2019). London had the highest number of housing repossessions during the first half of the year at 1,291 (the equivalent of four repossessions a day). From the 25 major cities considered in England and Wales, there was a grand total of 2,880 social housing repossessions in the time period of January – June 2019. Research shows that the number of households on local authority waiting lists for social housing remains above one million. Read more on the pbctoday website.

https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/over-2800-social-housing-repossessions-2019/66782/

UK Construction Skills Gap Could Be Helped With Temporary Visas Post-Brexit

A think tank has suggested temporary ‘brickie visas’ could help to deal with the UK construction skills gap in the wake of Brexit. This would grant EU nationals entry into the country after Brexit to fill jobs that would not otherwise qualify for a Tier 2-style work permit. The visa would be issued for a year, but could be extended up to a maximum of three. This would help businesses train local workers for unfulfilled roles. Migration Watch UK made the suggestion in a new report ‘EU Immigration, Post-Brexit – A Comprehensive Policy’. Read more on the pbctoday website.