Call for training as building jobs at risk

SIPTU has called for an urgent shift in the country’s training and educational programmes in light of claims that 80,000 construction workers are at risk of long-term unemployment because of their lack of educational qualifications.

However, the Construction Industry Federation has said doomsdayers predicting a major slump in the industry are completely misreading the situation.

The Higher Education Authority yesterday warned thousands of young men will face long-term unemployment if a decline occurs in the building sector as they have only second-level education or have not reached that level in the system.

SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said the authority’s claims were worrying, coming after other reports.

“On the one hand we have FÁS telling us we need 100,000 more graduates in the workforce by 2010 and on the other we have the 2006 Census showing us there are 82,238 construction workers with only Junior Certificate, or even no qualifications,” he said.

“A fundamental issue remains the need for long-term sustainable growth based on a highly skilled workforce and here the Government needs to show far more creative thinking and a willingness to look at radical initiatives than it has done in the past. The level of investment in retraining at all levels must be increased and paid study leave made an entitlement for every member of the workforce.

“Such a programme should be rolled out quickly and with priority given initially to those most at risk of long-term unemployment.”

The Construction Industry Federation has said the authoruty is exaggerating the risk to the industry.

It said that while house-building is slowing, civil engineering projects, repair and maintenance projects and infrastructural projects are increasing and the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show an increase in construction employment.

“People are equating the industry with housing” said Martin Whelan of the CIF. “They are not looking at the industry in its entirety.”