The governments plans to deny visas to low-skilled workers are going to affect many industries, but arguably none more so than the construction sector.<\/p>\n
Thats because the building industry has, since the last recession, relied heavily on migrant workers. That downturn meant when construction projects were curtailed and domestic workers left the industry, foreign-born labour was easily accessible once business picked up again, because of the skills shortages that existed in the UK-born workforce. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that EU nationals now comprise a crucial part of the construction workforce, accounting for around 8 per cent of all construction workers in the UK, 28 per cent in London.<\/p>\n
This migrant labour source has also helped the industry counter the shortfall of apprentices. According tothe Construction Industry Training Board, the industry needs to fill some 168,500 new jobs over the next five years, and grow much more of its own domestic workforce, given the limits on future access to migrant workers after Brexit. But the latest government figures show the number of people starting an apprenticeship in England (overall, not just in construction) fell to 125,800 between August and October last year, down 4.7 per cent from 132,000 in the same quarter a year earlier.<\/p>\n
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines<\/p>\n
At the same time, the sector is being squeezed at the other end. ONS figures show that in 2011, one in every five UK-born construction workers was aged over 55 meaning that by 2021, those people will nearly have reached retirement age, about the same time that any limits on migrant workers will kick in. Restricting access to all-important migrant labour could sound the death-knell for many construction companies.<\/p>\n
The government also has little understanding of what constitutes a skilled worker in the construction sector. Immigrants recruited into the industry from abroad today are highly skilled tradesmen and women far removed from the Brexiteers stereotype. On the upside, the government is proposing that theshortage occupation list the official list of occupations for which there are not enough resident workers to fill vacancies will now include carpenters and plasterers. Bewilderingly, however, the list will still not include many of the other trades that are crucial for fulfilling a building project, such as bricklayers, plumbers and electricians.<\/p>\n
Viking re-enactors during the Jorvik Viking Festival in York, recognised as the largest event of its kind in Europe<\/p>\n
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Former Greek Finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and editor in chief of WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsonn attend a protest against the extradition of Julian Assange outside the Australian High Commission in London<\/p>\n
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A worker recovers stranded vehicles from flood water on the A761 in Paisley, Scotland<\/p>\n
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Police officers outside Regents Park mosque in central London after a man was reportedly been stabbed in the neck. Footage from the scene showed a young white man in a red hooded top being led from the mosque by police<\/p>\n
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Floodwaters surround Upton upon Seven following Storm Dennis<\/p>\n
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Models on the catwalk during the Bobby Abley show at London Fashion Week<\/p>\n
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Rachel Cox inspecting flood damage in her kitchen in Nantgarw, south Wales, where residents are returning to their homes to survey and repair the damage in the aftermath of Storm Dennis<\/p>\n
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Teme Street in Tenbury Wells is seen under floodwater from the overflowing River Teme, after Storm Dennis caused flooding across large swathes of Britain<\/p>\n
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Models present creations at the Richard Quinn catwalk show during London Fashion Week in London<\/p>\n
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Climate change protesters march through Whitehall, London<\/p>\n
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Resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr Javids departure comes just one month before a crucial budget, intended to chart the course for the new government and makes him the shortest-serving chancellor for more than 50 years<\/p>\n
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Hill farmer Tommy Aitchison from North Shortcleugh farm feeds his sheep in Elvanfoot, Scotland. A yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place across most of Scotland, police have reported a number of crashes across the region with many routes affected by snow and ice<\/p>\n
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Robyn Peoples, left, 26, and Sharni Edwards, 27, at the Loughshore Hotel, in Carrickfergus, after they became the first couple to have a same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland<\/p>\n
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Waves crash over a lorry on Blackpool waterfront as weather warnings for wind, snow and ice have been issued across large parts of the country. A day after the UK is trying to recover from the battering from Storm Ciara<\/p>\n
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Residents attempt to remove water from their property as the streets flood in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, as Storm Ciara hits the UK<\/p>\n
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England's Ellis Genge celebrates scoring the first try of their Six Nations match against Scotland with teammates. The weather at Murrayfield Stadium hampered the playing conditions, with winds and rain from Storm Ciara approaching the UK. The away side won the match late on, with the scoreline ending 6-13<\/p>\n
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Activists surround a wooden trojan horse in the courtyard of the British Museum in London. The horse, which is 4 metres tall and can seat 10 people inside, was pulled in by a group of supporters with flags reading \"BP Must Fall\"<\/p>\n
BP or not BP\/PA<\/p>\n
Members of the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme team examine a dead whale that died after becoming stranded in the Thames estuary at Medway over the weekend<\/p>\n
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Children from Oaklands Secondary School in Bethnal Green and Families Belong Together campaigners in Westminster before handing a petition in to the Home Office, as they call on the government to amend the UK's refugee family reunion laws<\/p>\n
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Rasputin the polar bear, shakes off water as he is unveiled at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster<\/p>\n
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Police activity inside a cordon where a man was shot by armed police in a terrorist-related incident in Streatham, London<\/p>\n
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Micheal Ward with his Rising Star Award alongside Daniel Kaluuya Baftas<\/p>\n
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Activists attend an anti-Conservative government, pro-Scottish independence, and anti-Brexit demonstration outside Holyrood, the seat of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh<\/p>\n
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Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge in front of the Houses of Parliament in London. Britain officially exits the EU on 31 January, beginning an eleven month transition period<\/p>\n
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Kiko the 2-year-old British Bulldog skateboarding with his owner, Ebel Perez, from Shiremoor, North Tyneside<\/p>\n
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British MEP's and their assistants along with members of the political group Socialist and Democrats at a ceremony prior to the vote on the UK's withdrawal from the EU at the European Parliament in Brussels<\/p>\n
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Torches are lit using a flare ahead of the Up Helly Aa Viking festival. Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland's Norse heritage<\/p>\n
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England bowler Mark Wood is lifted aloft by Joe Root after taking the final wicket of South Africa to win the match and series during day four of the Fourth Test at Wanderers in Johannesburg<\/p>\n
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Performers taking part in a parade involving costumes, lion dances and floats, during Chinese New Year celebrations in central London, which marks the Year of the Rat<\/p>\n
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A couple walks along the Basingstoke canal near to Dogmersfield in Hampshire<\/p>\n
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Boris Johnson gestures as he watches a performance during celebrations for Chinese Lunar New Year at Downing Street in London<\/p>\n
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Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe stands next to her father Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and his mother Barbara, as they address the media in Downing Street following a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson<\/p>\n
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Rosa Connolly takes a close look during a preview of the Tyrannosaurs exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh<\/p>\n
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The sun sets behind tower cranes and the London skyline in the city financial district<\/p>\n
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson as they attend the UK-Africa Investment Summit at the Intercontinental Hotel in London. Johnson is hosting African leaders and senior government representatives along with British and African businesses during the UK-Africa Investment Summit, aimed at strengthening the UKs economic partnership with African nations<\/p>\n
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Joe Root celebrates with his England team mates after taking the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen during day four of the third Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. He took a career-best four wickets during the day's play, which saw the home side follow on in their second innings. They trail England by 188 runs going into day five<\/p>\n
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Drag queens pose on the pink carpet as they participate in the \"Queen's Walk\" during RuPaul's DragCon UK at Kensington Olympia<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty<\/p>\n
Kitty Ross, curator of social history, is pictured reflected in a display cabinet while holding a skeleton violin from the 1880s that forms part of the Sounds of our City exhibition at the Abbey House Museum in Leeds<\/p>\n
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Britain's Harry, Duke of Sussex (C), hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draw in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, 16 January 2020. The Duke, who is expected to step back from senior Royal duties, spoke with Ruby League ambassadors and children from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School in London<\/p>\n
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Vehicles negotiate the flooded B4069 road at Christian Malford in Wiltshire after the river Avon burst its banks<\/p>\n
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Huge waves hit the sea wall in Porthcawl, Wales, as gales of up to 80mph from Storm Brendan caused disruption around the UK<\/p>\n
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Puppeteers from Vision Mechanic rehearsing with Scotland's largest puppet, a ten-metre tall sea goddess called Storm, in the grounds of the Museum of Flight, East Lothian. Made entirely from recycled materials, it was unveiled ahead of its debut at the Celtic Connections Costal Day celebrations in Glasgow this weekend<\/p>\n
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A windsurfer jumps in the air after hitting a wave in the sea off of West Wittering beach in West Sussex<\/p>\n
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Mikuru Suzuki celebrates winning the women's championship of the BDO World Professional Darts Championships 2020 in London<\/p>\n
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One of seven new lion cubs at the West Midlands Safari Park in Kidderminster<\/p>\n
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Rawson Robinson, from Nenthead, on the Cumbria and Northumberland border clears snow from the model village he has built in his garden<\/p>\n
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People read messages written on the David Bowie mural in Brixton, south London, on what would have been the singer's 73rd birthday<\/p>\n
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Read more:<\/p>\n
Without migrant workers, Boris Johnsons promises of new homes and HS2 will remain a fantasy - The Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The governments plans to deny visas to low-skilled workers are going to affect many industries, but arguably none more so than the construction sector. Continue reading