The construction industry has given a generally positive response to the Home Office’s decision to ease visa rules for overseas builders, carpenters, roofers and plasterers to tackle skills shortages. The move follows advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to add builders – along with roofers and plasterers – to the Shortage Occupation List, which temporarily eases visa restrictions in areas where employers are struggling to fill vacancies.
Adrian Attwood, executive director of conservation construction contractor DBR commented: “Relaxing of visa rules can only be good news for the construction industry and the UK economy as a whole.”
“We are currently in a perfect storm of resource shortages due to Brexit, the skills gap and post-Covid work/life balance attitudes. It’s seriously hampering the growth of companies and their ability to meet increasing volume whilst, at the same time, be able provide a high quality agile service. The labour market is also overheating with wage demands outstripping the market’s ability to absorb higher costs further depressing market confidence.”
Allan Wilen, economic director, at Glenigan agreed it was a positive and necessary move to offset the skills shortages: “Whilst construction activity has cooled in recent months, the industry is still facing a high level of job vacancies and a shortage of labour, this move will hopefully help firms address current skills gaps in their workforce.”
Simon Herod from digital estimating platform EstimateOne said the skills shortage “has forced main contractors to reassess their supply chains and explore alternative strategies to reduce financial risks, especially when sourcing subcontractors. The long overdue easing of visa restrictions will, hopefully, reopen the pool of temporarily inaccessible skilled workers, enabling main contractors to expand their search for subcontractors once again. The relaxation of these restrictions will be crucial for supply chain security and growth, re-establishing relationships and opening more lines of communication is what’s needed to propel this industry forward.”
Suzannah Nichol, Build UK chief executive, welcomed the news, adding: “It is vital that construction is able to fill vacancies and quickly address shortages around particular roles.”
Maria Hudson, CMO, construction software specialist Zutec said: “Given the current sector stagnation, hopefully this will provide the shot in the arm the industry needs.”
The move follows advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to add builders – along with roofers and plasterers – to the Shortage Occupation List, which temporarily eases visa restrictions in areas where employers are struggling to fill vacancies.
The committee recommended several job types for inclusion on the list – bricklayers and masons, roofers, roof tilers and slaters, carpenters and joiners, and plasterers, plus various others.
People on the shortage occupation list can apply for a skilled worker visa to work in the UK, however applicants will still need a sponsored job offer from an employer and to meet English Language requirements. Those working in a shortage occupation pay lower visa fees and can be paid 80% of the job’s usual rate and still qualify for a visa.
The list is reviewed every six months, with another review is expected by the autumn. Vacancies are 65% higher in construction compared to pre-pandemic levels, the report found.