Scottish Skills Gap Nearing 'Crisis Point'

A 'crisis point' within Scottish construction has been reached due to an ongoing skills shortage, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

In its latest monthly construction survey, RICS reported 63% of respondents found difficulty in sourcing labour as an obstacle to growth, while 30% reported an increase in workloads.

Approximately two thirds of respondents also highlighted specific problems in finding bricklayers.

While just under two-thirds predicted a growth in construction workloads during the next 12 months, RICS stated this would only be sustainable if the continuing skills gas was addressed.


RICS Scotland Director Sarah Speirs said: "The availability of both blue collar and white collar construction workers is reaching crisis point. Without the relevant skills, we will not be able to grow many of the Scottish Government’s priority construction sectors such as infrastructure.

"Currently, while we know that there is a serious shortage of skills, we don’t yet know why we have seen such a dramatic drop in the labour market over the past five years. Part of the problem is the legacy of the collapse in the sector following the onset of the Global Financial Crisis.

"Many professionals and other skilled workers chose to leave the industry and quite simply have not returned or been replaced. A real focus on attracting more young people into the industry is critical alongside an expansion of apprenticeship opportunities."

Earlier this month, a report by the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) suggested confidence among employers in the construction sector had fallen back to levels of the first half of 2014.

(LM/MH)