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Reveals the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its latest survey of members.

The current skills shortage is almost entirely for three main trades – Bricklayers, Carpenters and Plasterers. During 2006 the proportion of FMB members reporting that they were experiencing difficulty obtaining sufficient labour averaged 40%, which continued in the first quarter of 2007.

However, in the last three months (May to June 2007), the proportion of FMB members indicating difficulty either recruiting direct employees or hiring sub-contractors had jumped to 53%; its highest level since 2005.

Brian Berry, FMB External affairs Director, commenting on these findings said:  “What this survey reveals is that yet again our education system needs to be refocused to enable young people to have the skills which the UK is so badly lacking. Rather than just focussing on academic higher education the Government should be thinking more about enabling young people to learn a trade for which there is so much demand and which underpins the long term competitiveness of UK plc.”

The FMB survey also reveals that the number of firms reporting delays of more than two weeks in the supply of building materials has more than doubled from 6% in the first quarter of 2007 to 16% in the second quarter of 2007.

The changes in material supply reflect the signs of a recovering workload, which have been apparent in the last three quarters. More than four out of ten firms reported a higher total workload in quarter two, and the same proportion expect workloads to increase further in the third quarter.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the FMB, says: "The ongoing problem about finding enough skilled workers in the construction sector reflects the strength of the construction market.

"Small construction firms are reporting an increase in activity, which merely exacerbates the already growing demand for skilled construction labour. It's worrying that the government is still failing to meet its own targets to train more apprentices in the construction sector.

"We need a sea of change in attitudes towards training young people to learning new trades.

"Vocational training needs to be given the weighting and value as those wanting an academic education. Until this happens Britain will continue to suffer an on-going skills shortage which is affecting the overall performance of the economy, not least the impact this will have on getting the Olympics completed on time by 2012."

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