Construction will suffer from skills shortage

Resourcing Solutions warns other construction projects will suffer in run up to Olympics if skills shortage is not addressed.

As the Construction Skills Network reveals that the industry needs to find 182,000 more workers in the rush to complete buildings for the 2012 London Olympics, Resourcing Solutions warns that unless the current and impending critical skills shortage is met, other important UK projects will also suffer as a result.

"We're not just talking about manual labour here," said Richard Lawrance, managing director of Resourcing Solutions a leading recruitment specialist in the construction and transportation industry.

"From builders to engineers, planners to senior management, there is a skills shortage across the board that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later".

He added: "Without competent engineers and experienced senior management, the building of the Olympic infrastructure will not be delivered".

"Meeting these deadlines will undoubtedly depend on the recruitment of highly skilled migrant workers from overseas - an essential resource in this climate".

But Richard says the industry needs to be doing more to stabilise in the long term.

"It's vital we deliver a first class Olympics but other major construction and transportation projects must not suffer as a result".

"Hospitals and schools for example still need to be built and the rail and transport network must continue to be improved and maintained across the country".

"Over the next few years we have to really focus our efforts on recruiting, training and retaining people in the industry, while also doing all we can to promote the sector as a desirable area in which to work".

"We need to be doing all we can to ensure that quality engineers, planners and project managers for example are coming out of university and into positions in which they can thrive and grow.".

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