Construction industry urged to invest in skills to avert shortage

James Wates, the deputy chairman of Wates Construction, urged construction firms to invest in skills and employment during the economic recovery to keep the industry moving forward.

The sector faces a skills shortage, having shed an estimated 375,000 jobs during the recession.

Speaking at an event in Leeds, Mr Wates said: "Employment and training took 10 years to recover from the skills shortages created by the early 1990s recession and we're heading in the same direction.

"As the numbers of older workers increase and young workers decrease, more and more demographic pressure is being put on the industry and this is something we need to address now.

"Employers in this region and throughout the UK need to take greater advantage of the opportunities that exist to train our future workforce.

"It is our duty to look beyond building and invest in the industry of tomorrow."

He also predicted slow growth for the sector as public spending cuts hit new building projects.

He said to expect average growth of 1.7 per cent a year between now and 2014. More than a third of construction output last year was generated by the public sector.

Mr Wates, who is chairman of the industry training board, made the comments at an event at Oulton Hall for representatives from across Yorkshire's building industry.

Wates employs 150 people at its Leeds office and a further 6,000 across its Yorkshire sites.