New figures have revealed construction firms are still struggling to recruit skilled workers in the industry.

The latest UK Construction Market Survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) states 56% of firms are struggling to grow due to a lack of "appropriately skilled labour".

Bricklayers and quantity surveyors were revealed to be in the shortest supply with 59% and 57% of respondents citing difficulties in these areas.

A total of 36% of firms said a lack of funding was restricting new developments, while planning/regulatory delays are stalling growth for 60% of firms.

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Overall the survey reveals workloads in the construction market are continuing to slow down. with 17% more respondents reporting a rise in activity over the previous three months compared with 28% in the first quarter.

Participants said they expect workloads to increase by 1% over the next 12 months, down from 2.8% predicted in the first quarter. In addition, employment growth is expected to rise 0.6% rather than the 2% anticipated.

Jeremy Blackburn, RICS' Head of UK Policy, said: "Construction and infrastructure need to be at the heart of the future strategy – as a partnership led by Ministers, like the aerospace or automotive sectors. It should look at competition, enterprise, investment, innovation and skills as main drivers. Getting funding and skilled tradespeople will need solving but the long term viability of the sector – rather than boom and bust – is central.

"As Ministers move to lay out a timeline and ambition for negotiating Brexit, construction will need clarity particularly on the nature of our future access to the EU single market for capital, materials and labour."

(LM/CD)