Rics warns 300,000 jobs at risk

24/11/2008

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has warned at least 300,000 construction jobs are at risk.

It said unless the government brought forward construction projects, more workers in the sector will find themselves out of a job.

"The economic downturn will hit construction professionals, including quantity surveyors and project managers, plasterers, bricklayers and carpenters," said chief economist Simon Rubinsohn.

"Bringing forward capital funding for vital projects will have the advantage of delivering much needed housing and infrastructure but will also go some way to preventing an employment crisis in the industry."

Without this Rics estimates total job losses could affect as much as 14 per cent of the industry's workers.

Furthermore, it warned vital skills could be lost as workers re-trained and the construction industry would then struggle to find its skilled workers.

Rics suggested the government increase its investment by building schools for the future, housing schemes, light rail and tram schemes, and upgrading the NHS and Network Rail.

Funding difficulties have also hampered housing projects and forced developers to delay their completion.

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