Migrant workforce said to be largely positive for construction industry
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Migrant workers coming from the European Union have had a positive impact on the construction industry, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has said.
John Slaughter, HBF's director of external affairs, claimed that there is general consensus in the industry that migrant labour has contributed largely in a positive way over the last few years.
"We have had quite a lot of workers who perhaps initially came in to help with the skills shortage so it's been beneficial in terms of effective operation in the industry," he added.
He went on to note that migrant workers have not impacted negatively on the "possibilities of the indigenous population to develop skills".
In April, the BBC reported that a House of Lords committee had described immigration as been of "small benefit" to the UK.
Some 160,000 homes were built in Britain last year, while the projected household formation was 223,000 per year, according to the HBF.
SOURCE: Adfero
