Construction union UCATT are calling for the Government to increase investment in the industry, after a new report highlighted further economic gloom for the sector.

The report produced by the Construction Skills Network (CSN) forecasts that the industry will lose 45,000 jobs in 2012 and that output will fall by 3%.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This latest report once again demonstrates that Government policies are severely damaging the construction industry. The lack of future public sector projects is clearly cited as one of the principle reasons why the industry will struggle."

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Despite the expected decline in construction jobs the report states that the industry still needs to recruit new workers and that between 2012 and 2016, construction will need to recruit 46,000 new workers each year. However apprentice levels remain far below the industry’s requirements, creating fresh concerns about skills shortages as the industry comes out of recession.

Mr Murphy, added: "We urgently need a joined up policy approach from the Government, where increased public infrastructure investment is linked to procurement policies which require companies to train apprentices. These apprentices will then form the workforce of tomorrow."

(CD/GK)