Able Skills Construction Training’s Post

🚧 Construction Industry Pins Hopes on Labour Landslide for Stability 🚧 Exciting times ahead for the UK construction sector! With polls predicting a major Labour Party victory in the upcoming general election, industry leaders are optimistic about the potential for long-term stability and growth. 🏗️ Labour, under Keir Starmer, is poised to secure a significant majority, potentially surpassing Tony Blair's historic 1997 win. This shift is seen as a beacon of hope for a sector that has faced economic uncertainties and challenges in recent years. Why this matters: - Increased Public Spending: Labour's policies could lead to substantial investments in infrastructure, driving numerous construction projects. - Regulatory Improvements: Streamlined and improved regulations could foster a more predictable and business-friendly environment. - Economic Stability: A focus on long-term strategic investments promises a more stable economic landscape for the industry. The construction sector is ready to build a better future, with Labour's vision promising to lay the groundwork for sustained growth and stability. Let's gear up for the possibilities that lie ahead! 💪🛠️ Read more about this optimistic outlook: https://lnkd.in/e5RDc33A #Construction #UKPolitics #LabourParty #Infrastructure #EconomicGrowth #IndustryNews

New Labour Government: Opportunity or Threat for the Construction Industry? I've been thinking about how the Labour government’s plans might impact the construction sector, especially around residential infrastructure. Is it really the game-changer it’s set out to be? With the Labour government promising to build 1.5 million new homes over the next few years, there’s a lot of excitement in the construction sector. This could mean more jobs and a boost for residential construction companies. But it’s not all good news. We’re likely to see more regulations, especially around sustainability. This could mean higher costs for construction firms as they upgrade their processes to meet new environmental standards. While Labour wants to make planning easier, there’s a chance that new rules might actually make approvals more complicated, adding more hoops to jump through. Plus, the construction industry is still dealing with challenges like high interest rates, inflation, and supply chain issues. These can slow down investment and make financing projects tougher. In short, the Labour government's housing plans are exciting but also bring real challenges. The next few years will be crucial for the construction industry as it navigates new regulations and economic pressures while aiming for growth. What do you think? Is this a turning point for the construction industry, or should we be cautious about these changes?

CAN UK CONSTRUCTION DELIVER LABOURS HOUSING AMBITION It was good to hear Rt Hon Rachel Reeves statement at The Labour Party conference today. There has been a clear change in the rhetoric following the impact of the negative reaction to Labour's recent 'doom and gloom' stance.... I'm pleased to hear the focus on business as well as workers, so lets see how it translates on 30th October. A concern I do have is over the aspiration (and I use that word carefully) to build 1.5m new homes. In Rt Hon Rachel Reeves speech today she said that their actions to unlock planning consents will free up the housing market and as a result there will be a glut of new homes, homes that would be affordable for everyone that needs them. This is a one-dimensional response to a more complex problem, and it could be seen as naive. Yes it gets the 'troops' rallied, but will it solve the problem? She failed to reference some key bottlenecks. 1. There are not enough people to build these homes - skilled workers, contractors and sub-contractors are all in short(er) supply 2. There are not enough building materials to satisfy this ambition whilst also meeting existing demands and commitments 3. There is not enough 'supported' innovation within the sector together with the adoption of new ways to design and build the buildings and spaces we need If we aren't careful, fulfilling this aspiration could lead to further inflation in people costs, materials costs and also land costs. We could see those skilled workers picking and choosing what work they do (for the best price), material suppliers rationing key materials and land owners 'sitting' on their banks to achieve better prices. So, how will we new homes at a price the people who need them can afford? UK Construction has always met Govt. demands head on, but Labour need to consider the unintended consequences of their statements/rhetoric. #HouseBuilding #Construction #CostofLiving

🔍 What a New Labour Government Means for the Construction Industry in the Midlands 🔍 As an experienced construction recruitment business owner in the Midlands, I’ve been monitoring the political landscape and its potential impacts on our industry. With the recent election of a new Labour government, we are expecting significant changes that could reshape the construction sector. Here’s what we could expect and how we can prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead: 1. Increased Infrastructure Investment: 🔹 Major Projects on the Horizon: Labour’s commitment to boosting public infrastructure spending means we can anticipate a surge in new projects, from transportation networks to public buildings. This presents tremendous opportunities for growth and employment within the construction sector. 2. Housing Development: 🔹 Affordable Housing Initiatives: Labour’s focus on addressing the housing crisis will likely result in increased funding for affordable housing projects. This means more residential developments, creating jobs and requiring skilled professionals across various construction roles. 3. Job Creation and Skills Development: 🔹 Labour Market Expansion: With an influx of new projects, there will be a significant need for a skilled workforce. This is an excellent time for professionals in the construction industry to seek new opportunities and for companies to invest in training and upskilling their teams. 4. Emphasis on Fair Work Practices: 🔹 Workers’ Rights and Conditions: Labour is expected to implement policies that enhance workers' rights and improve working conditions. This includes fair wages, better job security, and improved health and safety standards. Ensuring compliance with these new regulations will be essential. 5. Economic and Business Support: 🔹 Support for SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction sector can expect increased support through grants, loans, and incentives. This can help drive innovation and competitiveness, providing a boost to local businesses. 🔹 Tax and Financial Policies: Keep an eye on changes to tax policies and financial regulations that could impact your operations. Strategic planning and adaptation will be key to leveraging these changes for business growth. Preparing for the Future: Staying proactive and informed is essential as we navigate these upcoming changes. By understanding and adapting to the new Labour government’s policies, we can position ourselves for success and contribute to the thriving future of the Midlands construction industry. If you’re looking to strengthen your team with skilled professionals across the industry, get in touch with me - 0121 236 4717. #ConstructionRecruitment #MidlandsConstruction #LabourGovernment #InfrastructureInvestment #HousingDevelopment #JobCreation #SkillsDevelopment #FairWorkPractices #SMESupport #BuildingTheFuture #ConstructionIndustry #SustainableConstruction

Australia has too many construction sector workers. Politicians, economists, the media, and think tanks in Australia continue to argue that a supply shortage has caused the housing crisis. They argue that the situation would be resolved if Australia built more homes. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02Vq_HJ0 #australia #constructionworkers #economist #supplyshortage

🔴 The future of construction: Are Labour’s pledges more fantasy than fact? From building 1.5 million homes on grey belt land to creating a new generation of towns, Labour’s ambitions promise positive outcomes for the construction, housing, and social housing sectors. However, the devil is in the details—something that is noticeably absent, particularly with Starmer’s flagship planning overhaul. Richard Greenwood, director at EN:Build, believes Labour’s pledges bring optimism to the construction industry but warns of the danger in promises without plans ➡ https://bit.ly/4d6NxE2 #LabourGovernment

After a slowdown in employment growth during the run up in quantitative tightening, the labour market in finance, insurance and real estate (FIRE) has shown resilience through 2024. Construction on the other hand has not been so lucky. With 1.56 million labourers as of July, the labour force survey is showing that construction employment has essentially flatlined over the past year. Perhaps you may have expected a larger contraction in construction or an underperformance in the FIRE industries relative to the national economy, but there some key differences in these two sectors such as different exposures to industry-specific business cycles, varying interest rate sensitivities, and perhaps most importantly is dependency on tangible goods versus high-skilled services.

In my latest article I argue that in our current state of full employment, spending beyond the market's ability to deliver more projects will just divert labour from one place (much needed housing) to another (much needed infrastructure) at a higher and higher premium. In this context, there is a real risk that because of the labour shortage, the next decade of major infrastructure spending will create a bidding war for construction workers that will inflate housing construction costs further still. If we decide to import the labour, where are they going to live? Quite the pickle! In this environment: - We cannot expect construction costs to normalise in the context of a labour shortage, which will continue to place upwards pressure on the cost of new builds. - We cannot expect the capacity of the private sector to increase and build more new supply than we currently do, when the pool of buyers who can afford a new build gets smaller every year. - We certainly cannot expect the private sector to deliver housing that is considered "affordable" in the context of said labour shortage. - We cannot expect this to improve in the context of historic infrastructure spending, which will entice tradies away from housing projects. https://lnkd.in/gFbpqECh #labourshortage #constructionlabour #housingcrisis #CFMEU #haff #hiff #housingaffordability #infrastructure #economics #southeastqueensland #auspol #albo #socialhousing #affordablehousing #housing

Arnon Bar-David is calling on the Minister of Housing and Construction and the Minister of Interior to address the ongoing crisis in the construction sector. Here's why you should care: Stalled projects & rising housing prices: The shortage of workers is causing delays and driving up costs. New solutions aren't working: The government's quota for foreign workers isn't enough, and bureaucratic hurdles are slowing things down even more. Impact on the entire economy: Construction delays have a ripple effect, making everything more expensive. The Histadrut proposes these solutions: Streamline bureaucracy: Cut red tape to get workers here faster! ✂️ Increase quotas for new corporations: Give new businesses a fair chance to help solve the crisis. Promote competition among manpower corporations: A healthy market benefits everyone. ✅ To read more, click 👇 https://lnkd.in/dpCafn2q