The figures from the latest FMB State of Trade survey show that shortages for electricians and plumbers have reached the highest peak within the last four years, and almost half of construction SMEs are reporting difficulties in hiring roofers.

There are concerns that this issue could get worse as the effects of Brexit become more apparent.

Brian Berry, the Chief Executive of FMB said “Indeed, of the 15 key trades and occupations we monitor, 40% show skills shortages at their highest point since we started to feel the effects of the skills crisis in 2013 when the industry bounced back post-downturn. This growing skills deficit is driving up costs for small firms and simultaneously adding to the pressure being felt by soaring material prices linked to the weaker pound.”

“The Government needs to be taking note of the worsening construction skills shortage now that we know that the UK will be negotiating a hard Brexit. The Prime Minister must ensure that the immigration system that replaces the free movement of people serves key sectors such as construction and house building.”

“Our sector relies heavily on skilled labour from the EU, with 12 per cent of the British construction workforce being of non-UK origin. It’s in no one’s interest to pull the rug out from under the sector by introducing an inflexible and unresponsive immigration system.”

The construction industry constitutes to around seven per cent of the UK GDP and so something needs to be done so that the industry can remain strong and begin to grow again.