Construction sector set to create 15,000 jobs over next five years

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) predicts that the region’s construction sector could deliver more than 3,000 new jobs each year between 2015 and 2019.

The annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report says that their growth “could help fuel a Northern economic powerhouse”.

CITB is the Government body responsible for skills and training in construction. Most of its income is derived from a levy on employers who earn the money back by training apprentices. The CSN is co-ordinated by CITB in conjunction with Experian, who provide information and analytical services. According to the CSN report, the projects helping to drive growth in Yorkshire and the Humber include the new £600m retail quarter to be built in Sheffield city centre in 2016, plus the £138m retail and country parks and new Castleford Tigers stadium, which should see work begin in the summer.

However, the report warns that the sector’s recovery is threatened by a widening skills gap, and CITB is urging staff who left the industry during the downturn to return and take advantage of the pportunities in the sector.

Steve Housden, CITB sector strategy manager for Yorkshire and Humber, said: “This report is terrific news for the region and shows the construction industry is making a strong comeback.

“Worryingly, though, construction is facing a skills gap, with projects potentially held back due to a lack of skilled workers. That’s why CITB is working with industry to attract the next generation of workers and encourage skilled tradespeople who left the industry in the recession to return. This positive forecast shows that now is the right time to start, or return, to a rewarding career in construction.”