Economic recovery could create 15,000 construction jobs in region by 2019
MORE than 3,000 construction jobs could be created in the region each year for the next five years, an industry report has forecast, fuelled by the growth of the sector.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has claimed the predicted economic recovery of 2.3% over the period 2015-2019 would lead to the creation of 3,220 jobs each year.
The annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report says the commercial sector is the main driver in the region with private housing also showing steady growth over the forecast period. Projects helping drive this growth in Yorkshire and Humber include the £600m retail quarter to be built in Sheffield city centre in 2016, the £138m retail and country parks and Castleford Tigers rugby league stadium, which should see work begin in summer of this year.
However, the report warns that the sector’s recovery is threatened by a widening skills gap, and CITB is now urging tradespeople who left the industry during the downturn to return and take advantage of the increasing opportunities in the sector.
Steve Housden, CITB Sector Strategy Manager for Yorkshire and Humber, said: “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.
