A new study has suggested the majority of UK construction workers believe Brexit will damage government infrastructure projects as well as increase the skills crisis.

Researchers from Birmingham City University carried out a study examining the views of industry workers across 50 businesses to see how they believe jobs, projects and industry will be impacted by the UK leaving the European Union.

The research, titled: 'Brexit: measuring the impact upon skilled labour in the UK construction industry', found 82% of workers believed leaving the EU would prevent high-profile infrastructure schemes from being delivered, while 86% expected to see a rise in demand for skilled workers.

In addition, 88% of respondents believed the UK relied upon EU skilled labour with 92% stating freedom of movement was beneficial to the construction industry.

One respondent said: "I believe that this (Brexit) will lead to an intensification of the current skills crisis and could well lead to increases in labour and project costs."

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The research also showed that 90% of respondents thought other EU countries would be more attractive for migrant workers following Brexit, while 88% felt a labour shortage would affect the UK's industry

Marwan Mohamed, a recent Built Environment graduate from Birmingham City University who led the study, said: "This research deals with a topical, historic and unprecedented matter that is currently shrouding the UK construction sector.

"It concludes that the UK construction sector relies upon EU skilled labour, that there is widespread industry opposition to Brexit, and that many within the sector believe Brexit will reduce the supply of skilled labour from the EU rather than increase or enhance it."

The paper outlines possible solutions to both a potential reduction in skilled labour moving to the UK following Brexit and the limited numbers of young people entering the construction industry;

• Retaining free movement by remaining in the European Economic Area

• Retaining current workers through increasing wages, providing guaranteed overtime and reducing physical exertion by expanding the use of technology

• Creating more apprenticeship opportunities

• Improving the image of a career in construction to appeal more to young people

Erika Pärn, Lecturer in Architectural Technology at Birmingham City University, who worked alongside Marwan Mohamed on the study, said: "The publication of this work has not only grabbed the attention and interest of academic audience but also seeks to engage the industry awareness and generate debate on this pressing matter affecting a plethora of the built environment professionals."

(LM)