Shortage of skilled tradespeople a ‘hard nut to crack’

With housing a significant issue in the General Election campaign as all parties promise to ramp up the number of homes being built each year, there are questions about whether the labour capacity is there to build at the scale needed

Last year saw just over 8,700 new apprentice registrations — well up on previous years — while the number of apprentice programmes has also grown. File photo

Skills shortages and the cost of recruiting skilled labour is the most common concern among tradespeople, according to a new survey. 

Up to 29% of respondents to an Onlinetradesmen.ie survey — which included builders, plumbers, electricians and landscapers — cited the shortage of skilled labour as the biggest obstacle to their operations and growth.