Industry warning over skills shortage post-Brexit

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The construction industry has warned the government of the danger to the sector if there is no transition period for vital EU workers after Brexit.

Seven trade bodies have set out what they believe to be the sector’s responsibilities and requirements in a post-Brexit labour market.

The Construction Industry Brexit Manifesto commits the sector to doing more to recruit and train additional UK workers to reduce its future reliance on migrant labour. However, it makes clear that this cannot happen overnight and, for some time, it is likely that an ongoing need for significant levels of skilled EU workers will remain

The document sets out the industry’s key messages to the government on what it will need from a post-Brexit immigration system in order to deliver the government’s strategic objectives for new housing and infrastructure:

Two of the key messages are:

• The government should agree a transition period of at least two years as soon as possible, during which time EU workers arriving in the UK should continue to have a path to settled status.
• The post-transitional migration system should be based on key occupations that are in short supply, rather than on arbitrary thresholds based on skill levels or income.

The manifesto is supported by: the Federation of Master Builders, Association for Consultancy & Engineering, Build UK, Civil Engineering Contractors Association, Construction Products Association and the Home Builders Federation, and National Federation of Builders.

Nelson Ogunshakin, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy & Engineering, said: “Without the skills that many EU nationals bring to the industry, we could be facing severe setbacks to the UK’s national infrastructure pipeline. ACE’s own surveys show that there is an increase in the number EU staff leaving the UK for jobs on the continent and this will only get worse if we do not bring certainty to EU workers’ residency rights.

“This Manifesto provides a road map for both government and industry to ensure that the UK can continue to access world class talent to deliver world class construction.”

Suzannah Nichol, chief executive of Build UK, said: “Construction, like other major industry sectors, has substantial concerns over the impact of Brexit on its ability to recruit, train and retain talent. It is essential that industry works together to present the need for an effective partnership between government and industry, enabling us to deliver the UK’s infrastructure, homes and communities."

Noble Francis, economics director at the Construction Products Association, added: “Access to the right skills will be absolutely critical for the whole construction supply chain in the next few years if it is to help government achieve its aims of building more affordable housing and improving the UK’s infrastructure, which will be vital for boosting UK productivity.”