This project is co-financed by the LSC, SEEDA and the European Social Fund
INDUSTRY
FOCUS
We shall be looking at key sectors in our industry focus section in future
bulletins. Please email enquiries@geresearch.co.uk if
you have a particular industrial sector that you would like featured
in the bulletin.
INDUSTRY FOCUS MARCH 2006: CONSTRUCTION
Focus
On Construction
In response to feedback
from the bulletin, in this edition we highlight
the Construction Sector for our Industry
Focus.
The construction sector
is diverse. Even defining the sector makes
for an interesting task, with the supply
chains for the industry stretching into
manufacturing for construction to quarrying
and so on. In consequence, the contribution
of construction to the output and labour
market is huge and the opportunities within
the construction and related sector are
wide-ranging.
Much has been said
about the boom and bust nature of the construction
industry. However, the industry has enjoyed
a long period of growth only punctuated
by skills shortages – hence more
opportunities for jobseekers. Change within
the sector has also affected the skills
required – more IT use in project
management; requirement for more communication
and people management skills; business
management for productivity are some examples.
One area of concern
for the industry is diversity within the
construction labour force. Our focus feature
contains information on equalities and
an interview with an employee of the Construction
Industry Training Board to find out what
this means for your clients.
Did you know:
Latest
statistics from the Department of Trade
and Industry indicate that the output
of the construction industry totals £102.4
billion
One in
10 people employed in the UK work in
construction and 1.68 million work
for contractors (DTI: Apr 2004)
ConstructionSkills – is
the Sector Skills Council for the Construction
Industry.
The Association
of Plumbing and Heating Contractors
state that there are now 26,000 people
on plumbing courses and that there
are not enough jobs for them.
INDUSTRY
FOCUS FEBRUARY 2006: CHILDCARE
The childcare sector has been under increasing scrutiny and pressure
not only through inherent changes in the labour market but also as part
of the national skills and equalities agendas.
The industry faces several challenges of interest to the information,
advice and guidance professional. First, the industry is able to attract
new staff but finds it difficult to retain them. Second, related to the
retention issue is the problem of pay and conditions; and third, the
industry is trying to promote itself to encourage men to join the industry
which employs a disproportionate amount of females.
New guidelines on the requirements of childcare and play settings to
have minimum qualifications are also exacerbating a shortage of skilled
workers in the sector.
