Hardhats thrown into the air please, people! This just in from top brass. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) shows a resurgence of growth in the regions and nations is driving a strong fightback . . . with arrows pointing upwards here, here and here.
Better yet, word on their street is this renaissance could ultimately create more than 224,000 jobs by 2019 and expand the sector by up to 2.9% year-on-year.
It credits the construction comeback to new investment in the infrastructure, housing and leisure sectors and gives special mention in despatches to projects such as the new Queensferry Crossing.
As we know, people, the CITB represents construction levy payers and is supported by a council with members drawn from across the sector.
And the experts who drew up its latest industry forecast, the Construction Skills Network (CSN) report, predict the annual demand for workers over the next five years will increase to 44,000
There is one small caveat. The report says the sector in Scotland will see a drop in growth from 2% to 1.1% over the next five years. This, it explains, is because of completed infrastructure projects associated with the redevelopment of the M8 and the hugely successful Commonwealth Games.
That’s not to say it’s Game Over! Before anyone packs up their theodolite and heads for civvy street, the CSN also highlights infrastructure investment remains at historic levels in Scotland, with investment in public housing, private housing and the commercial sectors.
As well as the Queensferry Crossing, it pinpoints projects such as the Aberdeen Western Peripheral route and the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
This means industry north of the Roman wall will need an average of 5700 new jobs every year for the next five, many simply to replace those retiring types opting for a sand wedge in the bunker over the sand spade in a mixer.
And that’s great news for anyone looking for a new career in the industry, including the girls.
Giiirls! Did you say giiiirls?
Yes, grandad, girls. No need to spill your tea.
Fresh initiatives have seen a rise in the number of female construction workers.
While it’s no secret historically the construction industry has failed to attract female employees, all that is changing; in fact, a new report confidently predicts women will fill one in four construction jobs by 2020.
According to Randstad Construction, Property and Engineering (CPE), the female employment share could rise from 20% to 26% within five years – it’s worth bearing in mind, the figure stood at only 16% five years ago.
And against a backdrop in which the UK Government is now promoting campaigns such as #NotJustForBoys in a bid to attract more women to construction roles, many firms have already stepped up efforts to take on a broader mix of workers in order to address threats posed by skills shortages.
Also worth noting is Randstad CPE’s suggestion the wage packets of female employees have grow in size at an annual rate of 6% over the past decade.
Finally, if proof positive were needed of a dramatic shift in perceptions of the construction industry, it comes from the CITB itself: in 2015, for the first time in its history, it is now governed by more women than men.
Who’s wolf whistling now, darlin’?
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