Worker shortage hampering small building companies

MOST smaller building firms are struggling to hire carpenters, joiners and bricklayers, a report shows.

Salaries in the industry are increasing because of the “ever-worsening” shortage of skilled workers, said the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Its survey of almost 350 small to medium-sized construction companies (SMEs) found that the sector was growing, but at a slower rate.

Around three out of five expected wages to increase in the coming months, while most believe the price of materials will rise. Three out of five were having problems recruiting carpenters, joiners and bricklayers.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “Material price hikes and skills shortages are putting the brakes on growth among the UK’s small building firms.

“Now that the general election is well and truly behind us, it was our hope that consumer confidence would spring back and spur growth among small building firms.

“However, latest research shows that rising costs are dampening the performance of construction SMEs. The spike in salaries is a direct result of the ever-worsening skills shortage in our sector. It’s a simple consequence of supply and demand.

“Construction workers know their worth and given the scarcity of skilled tradespeople, these individuals are understandably demanding higher wages from their employers.”