| In 2006 it was estimated that 7% of the | | | | companies, such as Barrett Developments |
| UK's workforce were present in the | | | | being hit, so are mid-level companies |
| construction industry. 2.2 million | | | | and smaller companies. In fact the |
| Construction Jobs were provided by the | | | | mid-range and small organizations are in |
| sector in the same year and this figure | | | | much more risk of folding entirely. |
| was believed to be increasing to 2.8 | | | | Also like the swinging ball executive |
| million by the year 2011. What's more | | | | toy the cuts in house building are |
| the construction industry was a major | | | | affecting all the other jobs within the |
| employer of graduates, with a third of | | | | construction industry. Managerial staff, |
| new positions being offered to | | | | and desk-based staff are being affected |
| university leavers. Unfortunately these | | | | along with builders and other |
| figures were estimated during a time of | | | | ground-level workers. |
| financial stability and a rising market. | | | | Similar trends are being seen in the USA |
| Now with the credit crunch the | | | | and practically all countries around the |
| construction industry is being | | | | world. One of the worst hit is Ireland |
| threatened just as much, if not more, | | | | and the situation there could be seen as |
| than other market sectors. | | | | a precursor of what is going to happen |
| Construction jobs cover a vast area of | | | | in the UK. It is now being commonly |
| the job market including such diverse | | | | agreed that a recession is approaching, |
| building services as: infrastructure | | | | although the severity of this recession |
| repair and maintenance; public and | | | | is being hotly debated. Within the |
| private house building; and the building | | | | construction sector the length of this |
| of factories, hospitals and schools. All | | | | recession is being estimated at one to |
| of these areas are threatened. Perhaps | | | | three years depending on which expert |
| the worse hit is the residential house | | | | you ask. |
| building market as falling house prices | | | | So as you can see the job losses in the |
| are meaning that people are pulling out | | | | house building market have had far |
| of property buying altogether. | | | | reaching effects on the construction |
| At the beginning of July 2008 The Times | | | | industry as a whole. Not only are there |
| Online told how Barrett Developments, | | | | construction job cuts left, right and |
| one of the UK's lead construction | | | | centre at a ground roots level but these |
| companies, made around 1000 redundant in | | | | are affecting jobs at all levels within |
| just one day. Over two days the | | | | the sector. Added to this companies are |
| redundancy figure hit a staggering 2500 | | | | moving, or selling regional offices |
| people. As well as all of these job cuts | | | | completely, meaning still more job cuts. |
| the company's shares have also dropped | | | | What's more the rocky period is believe |
| by 97% since a peak in February 2007. | | | | to have just begun and to be lasting for |
| Regional offices are being merged or | | | | at least another year meaning that we |
| closed entirely. Similar trends are | | | | have a long way to go yet. |
| being echoed throughout the market | | | | At a time like this a construction |
| sector. | | | | recruitment specialist can really help |
| All of these factors add up to an | | | | you find the best, most secure openings |
| unprecedented drop in the sector as | | | | and advise you on how best to pursue |
| mortgages become more difficult to | | | | your career move within the current |
| secure and as the economy weakens | | | | economic climate. |
| generally. Not only are the larger | | | | |