Construction skills shortages are significantly affecting the delivery of projects across the industry. Following a long recession, in which the construction sector was one of the worst affected, a surge in activity over the last year has seen firms struggling to find skilled labour to cope with increased demand. While much anecdotal evidence exists of these shortages, there is little quantitative evidence to illustrate where the skills gaps are, and how they impact upcoming projects.

This report closes the evidential gap by quantifying construction skills shortages across London and the South East, showing how they impact on the delivery of key infrastructure projects and public policy goals.