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