Addressing Northern Ireland’s construction industry skills shortages is essential to deliver future infrastructure objectives, according to a major survey commissioned by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

In a survey of over 500 local construction companies, undertaken for CITB by PricewaterhouseCoopers, 31% of companies had experienced recruitment difficulties in the past year, primarily because applicants lacked the skills the companies needed.

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Skills shortages were identified in most trades but companies had particular difficulty in recruiting skilled general operatives and labourers.

The research also found that employers were increasingly hiring migrant workers to plug the skills gap. Nevertheless, the survey found that the local industry needed to invest more in training, apprentices and skills development, if it is to deliver on infrastructure targets.

(CL)