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10/01/2014
House Building Continues To Improve
House building across the UK has continued to improve, with the private sector leading the way, according to the latest RICS Construction Market Survey.
However, the report also warned that the surge in activity is resulting in some shortages of both skills and materials. Some 36% of respondents said that labour shortages are already hampering building projects, with skills shortages increasing across all of the trades.
A higher percentage of respondents are now reporting problems sourcing relevant skills than at any time since mid-2006, the findings revealed. In addition, during the final three months of 2013, almost 40% of respondents claimed that a lack of materials is limiting activity, with surveyors noting that bricks and concrete blocks, in particular, are in short supply.
Significantly, infrastructure construction – which is a core priority of the government's economic plan – is showing signs of a revival, with the pace of growth increasing at its fastest rate in almost seven years.
The report added that the improving picture within the construction sector is visible at a regional level, with workloads rising for the second consecutive quarter in all parts of the country. Significantly, the stronger regional picture is evident in most segments of the construction industry.
Looking ahead, 74% of chartered surveyors said they expected workloads to increase during 2014, while predictions for employment levels and company profits were also very positive.
(JP/IT)
However, the report also warned that the surge in activity is resulting in some shortages of both skills and materials. Some 36% of respondents said that labour shortages are already hampering building projects, with skills shortages increasing across all of the trades.
A higher percentage of respondents are now reporting problems sourcing relevant skills than at any time since mid-2006, the findings revealed. In addition, during the final three months of 2013, almost 40% of respondents claimed that a lack of materials is limiting activity, with surveyors noting that bricks and concrete blocks, in particular, are in short supply.
Significantly, infrastructure construction – which is a core priority of the government's economic plan – is showing signs of a revival, with the pace of growth increasing at its fastest rate in almost seven years.
The report added that the improving picture within the construction sector is visible at a regional level, with workloads rising for the second consecutive quarter in all parts of the country. Significantly, the stronger regional picture is evident in most segments of the construction industry.
Looking ahead, 74% of chartered surveyors said they expected workloads to increase during 2014, while predictions for employment levels and company profits were also very positive.
(JP/IT)
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