UK building firms face worst recruitment problems, survey shows

Published On : 07/16/2024

LONDON (Reuters) – Construction and engineering firms are bearing the brunt of Britain’s shortage of workers, according to a survey that underscores the challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to meet his plans to boost home-building and infrastructure.

The British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) quarterly recruitment survey showed 82% of construction and engineering businesses reported recruitment difficulties, up from 69% in the first three months of this year.

The problem – which is not unique to Britain – was almost as severe in other sectors with nearly 80% of transport and logistics firms and production and manufacturing companies facing similar problems, all up from early 2024.

“It’s alarming that recruitment difficulties have increased in recent months across all sectors,” said Jane Gratton, the BCC’s public policy director. “The very sharp rise in the construction industry is particularly worrying.”

Starmer has promised to increase house building and infrastructure investment by clearing away obstacles in Britain’s planning system. However, he has also promised to bring down net migration despite warnings from some business leaders that such a move will compound hiring problems.

The BCC survey was based on responses from 4,761 firms – 91% of them small and medium-sized businesses – received between May 13 and June 10.

(Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)

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