Skilled Labour in Engineering and Construction

Prospects for the two major sectors discussed in this chapter provide something of a contrast. Employment in engineering is expected to fall substantially over the medium-term whereas in construction it is likely to rise. Both industries frequently claim that government attempts to regulate the economy impinge too much upon their activities, undermining product demand, making planning almost impossible and generally dissipating business confidence. Whether this exacerbates the cyclical fluctuations to which investment industries are in any case prone or simply slows down their average rates of growth or leads to both problems, the uncertainties about future demand in engineering and construction are usually considerable. These uncertainties and the relatively long lead-times required in training people for skilled trades combine to produce the classic situation with which ‘active manpower policy’ is intended to cope. Periodic labour shortages apparently occur, allegedly widespread and severely restricting the potential for higher output and employment.