Skilled workers taking lowest payments

With jobs still at a premium across the sector, many skilled construction workers are accepting as little as the minimum wage in order to secure work in the trade.

That has meant that many employers are choosing not to take on apprentices as they know they can get fully trained workers at almost the same cost.

The Construction Industry Federation is in talks with training agency Solas regarding incentives to employers which would make it more favourable for them to take on apprentices.