Call for building sector ‘placements’ in public sector

CONSTRUCTION job numbers have more than halved since the boom, leading to calls for unemployed professionals to be given ‘placements’ in the public sector to help stop a brain drain.

Industry leaders yesterday outlined plans for unemployed architects and engineers among others to keep their dole while earning small incomes from internships with departments or local authorities.

Construction employment has fallen to around 150,000 from a high of 400,000, the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation was told.