Apprenticeships and work experience schemes for users of brick tools are important to the future of the construction industry, one expert has claimed, as without such opportunities, the sector could face a skills shortage.
Following a Construction Skills Network prediction that as many as 68,000 jobs could be lost in the trade between 2011 and 2015 due to government slashes in public spending, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders Brian Berry warned that the training of new workers must be supported.
Stating that he found the projected job cuts "certainly realistic", seeing as the industry was already in "a precarious position", the expert recalled the early 1990s when millions of construction professionals being made unemployed resulted in a skills gap.
"It is difficult in the current market for an employer to take on apprentices given job security and falling demand," Mr Berry admitted.
"[However], the government and construction industry still need to engage about actually how we are going to keep young people in work."
Posted by Ryan Gilbert
Following a Construction Skills Network prediction that as many as 68,000 jobs could be lost in the trade between 2011 and 2015 due to government slashes in public spending, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders Brian Berry warned that the training of new workers must be supported.
Stating that he found the projected job cuts "certainly realistic", seeing as the industry was already in "a precarious position", the expert recalled the early 1990s when millions of construction professionals being made unemployed resulted in a skills gap.
"It is difficult in the current market for an employer to take on apprentices given job security and falling demand," Mr Berry admitted.
"[However], the government and construction industry still need to engage about actually how we are going to keep young people in work."
Posted by Ryan Gilbert