Low growth rates forecast for local construction industry

THE Yorkshire and Humber construction industry will grow at the slowest rate in the UK in the next five years, according to the CITB’s new Construction Skills Network (CSN) forecasts.

Interim figures suggest that construction output in the region will increase at an average of 0.8% over the period between 2015 and 2019 – well below the UK average of 2.9%. Output is not expected to return to its 2004 peak in the forecast period and employment growth will continue to lag.

Despite this, CSN data suggests that between the 2015 and 2019, an average of 2,340 workers will be required in the region per year to deliver the forecast growth.

All other regions with the exception of the West Midlands are expected to see output and employment growth.
 
Steve Housden, sector strategy manager for CITB (the Industrial Training Board  for the construction industry in Great Britain) in Yorkshire and Humber, said: “The CSN interim figures show that Yorkshire and Humber is significantly behind most other regions and has not benefitted as much as it could from the recent surge of activity in the sector more widely. 

“Stronger and more sustainable growth in Yorkshire and Humber is dependent on long-term infrastructure projects and continued investment. We welcome the recent announcement from the government’s Affordable Housing Programme that over £200m is to be invested to help build over 8,000 homes in the North East and Yorkshire and Humber.

“Its clarity and certainty of projects like these that give employers the confidence to train and plan. We’d therefore welcome any further announcements on construction projects in the area, and encourage employers to be ready for the opportunities coming to the region.”