Construction sector facing chronic skilled labour shortage

Warning the use of migrant labour can only work on he short term, the body calls for targeting ex-military personnel and apprentices to address the problem.

It also urges ministers and the national training agency to better engage with the sector if it is to meet its target of tens of thousands of new homes to meet pressing demand.

But Skills Development Scotland said it had already plans in place to attract new talent to the industry,

The FMB claims comes just two months after ScottishPower warned of a looming industry skills shortage and a need to attract large numbers of young engineers because thousands of workers are due to retire within the next decade.

Scotland is also endeavouring to open a £8.4 million training school for the promotion of traditional building skills.

Historic Scotland has said there is a shortage of 5000 traditionally skilled workers to meet the need to maintain the country's vast wealth of traditional buildings.

Speaking as the FMB unveiled its latest State of Trade Survey, Gordon Nelson, its Scottish director, said there was evidence of a recovery in the sector.

But he added: "However, attracting skilled workers is becoming a chronic problem for construction SMEs and the wider construction industry in Scotland. Our latest survey results demonstrate a particularly severe shortage of carpenters, joiners, plumbers and site managers. It's clear that the Scottish construction sector needs to re-focus its efforts on attracting new entrants. We need to target experienced workers such as ex-military personnel and also the next generation of construction apprentices.

"Migrant labour is playing its part in helping the industry to service rising workloads in the short term but if we are to meet the challenge of the housing crisis, we will require a much wider pool of skilled labour. In Scotland we need to build at least 30,000 new homes a year to keep pace with demand."

The Federation of Small Businesses said workforce planning and the interaction between industry and the education system "had been found wanting".

Head of external affairs Colin Borland said: "There's no point sorting out the planning system, or the availability of finance to the construction industry, if we don't then have anyone who can actually build the houses we need."

Hugh Aitken, CBI Director Scotland, said: "Finding enough people with the right skills is a growing barrier to project delivery. It's holding back our capacity to build the homes Scotland needs and impedes progress on other developments such as schools, hospitals and roads."

Skills Development Scotland said it had just last month launched for the construction sector, in partnership with employers, industry bodies and trade associations.

A spokesman added: "The three-year plan aims to attract future talent to the industry, improve the skills of the existing workforce, modernise training programmes and provide the skills needed for future growth.

"This will bring benefits such as offering more pathways into the industry for girls and women, ensuring employers have access to a supply of core construction skills, and helping to foster new skills that boost competitiveness."

A Scottish Government spokesman said it had almost 100,000 new opportunities for young men and women over the last four years

He continued: "By 2020 will create 30,00 new modern apprentices each year. Recent figures also suggest that our annual target of 25,000 opportunities will be exceeded once more.

"Construction has an important role to play in our economic future which is why the Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training met with industry representatives and Skills Development Scotland to launch the industry-led Skills Investment Plan for Scotland's construction sector.

"It will look at how we attract and retain people in the sector, remove barriers in the recruitment of traditionally under-represented groups and meet future needs on an on-going basis."