Graeme Ogilvy: Youth training is keystone of construction

The news comes as the number of young people working in construction has more than halved in the past three years. The sector is facing a “retirement timebomb” with around one in six workers due to retire within a decade. We cannot afford to have such a skills gap emerge, slowing industry growth, just as we are looking towards recovery.

Earlier this month, we released our annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report which showed Scottish construction suffered a tough year in 2011 with an estimated decline of 3 per cent in output. The coming year is set to be difficult as well, although the sector is expected to grow in 2013.

However, the report highlighted some positives. Construction employment in Scotland is set to grow at an annual rate of 1.1 per cent between 2012-16, almost twice the UK rate, and the infrastructure sector is expected to see an annual rate of increase of 4.7 per cent.

This is partly as a result of large-scale infrastructure projects on the horizon, another stated commitment in the Scottish Government budget. The new Forth crossing and the dualling of the A9 will create job opportunities, for example.

But while this year’s CSN report suggests long-term growth trends, conditions will remain challenging short-term. In these tough times, where youth unemployment is a particular problem, it is vital for firms to invest in training and apprenticeships to ensure they are prepared for the projected return to growth next year.

ConstructionSkills is already working to create sustainable employment opportunities and attract new blood into the industry as part of our Positive Image campaign. A commitment to skills is essential to ensuring Scottish construction has the support it needs to benefit from the future upturn.

• Graeme Ogilvy is director of ConstructionSkills in Scotland