'Builders forced to leave North for work may never return'

Hundreds of struggling builders in the North are forced overseas to find work because of the collapse of the housing market never return, industry representatives warned today.

Hundreds of struggling builders in the North forced overseas to find work because of the collapse of the housing market never return, industry representatives warned today.

With the number of local construction workers on the dole set to top 10,000 next year, many are now taking jobs as far away as Canada, Dubai and Poland according to the Construction Industry Group NI.

Others are moving to Scotland and England, Executive Secretary Ciaran Fox told a Stormont committee.

He said the true impact of the credit crunch on the building trade was actually more severe than the benefit claimant total suggested, with many of those laid off opting not to sign on and instead taking other less skilled jobs or seeking work elsewhere.

“Whilst we are saying the picture of 10,000 people signing on the dole is bad, the picture is much bleaker than that whenever we look at the number of people who have lost their jobs in construction already,” he said.

“Going forward in the next four to six months, it’s a really challenging time.”

Mr Fox said the North will lose out in the long term if a significant sector of its skilled workforce moves away.

“A loss of skills in Northern Ireland is a big fear, workers moving away,” he told members of the Employment and Learning committee.

“If only 10% stay where they go, it’s a considerable loss to Northern Ireland.

“We’re talking to some major construction firms who are looking more and more to outside of Northern Ireland, to other places of work.

“They are saying if we bring someone across for a 12 month contract, if they bring their family across, the chances are some of those people will lay their roots there and won’t come back and that means you lose the skills to Northern Ireland.”

The CIGNI has called on the North's Executive to fast track major planned infrastructure projects to ensure the industry stays afloat through the financial crisis.

“It’s a very long-term impact, it’s not just one that hits now,” he explained.

“In 20 years time people will be looking for highly qualified, skilled professionals in the industry and because of this downturn at the moment, and if there is no action to try and remedy or at least alleviate matters, the impact isn’t just now it continues into the future.”