Infrastructure boom boosts construction

A WEST Midlands infrastructure boom is set to keep the region’s construction output growing over the next five years, according to a new report.

Road and rail projects are expected to see output in the infrastructure sector soar by over ten per cent over the four years to 2021, according to a new forecast from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) charity.

But this predicted surge in major projects follows a damning report this week by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which said the region was still suffering from a lack of the right workers in the construction sector.

This latest report from CITB, called Construction Skills Network, said the start of work on highspeed rail line HS2 would make a substantial contribution to this projected increase. Other work pending includes £335 million of upgrades to the M6.

These big projects mean overall construction output is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 1.3 per cent a year for the next five years, with 14,000 jobs created.

The report forecasts the most in-demand roles in the West Midlands will include carpenters (+3,450), electricians (+1,150) and construction process managers (+1,550).

There will also be significant demand for scaffolders, construction trades supervisors, labourers and surveyors.

The public, non-housing sector is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 3.6 per cent in the short-term.

Lorraine Gregory, CITB partnership manager for the West Midlands, said: “Although there is economic uncertainty, the West Midlands construction sector is set for growth, particularly in infrastructure.”