Growth in West Midlands construction sector worth 2,500 jobs a year

GROWTH in the West Midlands construction sector over the next five years could deliver almost 2,500 new jobs a year, according to the Construction Industry Training Board.

The annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report suggests that the strong comeback could amount to growth of 2.1% over the period 2015-2019, with 2,320 new jobs each year, giving greater economic impetus to the region.

The private housing and commercial sectors are the main drivers in the region with public housing also showing steady growth over the forecast period.

Projects helping drive growth in the West Midlands include a combination of government incentives such as Help To Buy and changes to stamp duty and work on new housing developments, as well as work on Birmingham’s city centre regeneration scheme, all of which require a significant number of skilled workers each year.

However, the report warns that the sector’s recovery is threatened by a widening skills gap, and CITB is now urging tradesmen who left the industry during the downturn to return and take advantage of the increasing opportunities in the sector.

Meg Hankinson, CITB Sector Strategy Manager for the West Midlands, said: “This report is terrific news for the region and shows the construction industry is making a strong comeback.  

“Worryingly, though, construction is facing a skills gap, with projects potentially held back due to a lack of skilled workers. That’s why CITB is working with industry to attract the next generation of workers and encourage skilled tradespeople who left the industry in the recession to return.
 
“This positive forecast shows that now is the right time to start, or return, to a rewarding career in construction.”

Nationally more than 224,000 jobs will be created by 2019 as the sector expands. The annual forecast shows that the UK’s private housing sector is set to continue growing at a rate of 4.6% over the forecast period, with the commercial sector set to grow at the same rate up to 2019.

To support the period of growth, CITB is calling for:

•    Continued commitment from all parties to deliver the National Infrastructure Plan
•    Improved careers advice to raise the status of construction and attract the next generation of construction workers
•    Government investment in the energy efficiency and retrofit market, to complement the many new-build projects and help the UK meet its environmental targets.

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