Hugh Try, chairman of the CITB, said: "We gave the minister an assurance that we would be able to cope; we should have every expectation of meeting our targets."
But Try also admitted that the targets were tough, saying: "It won't be easy, and there will be considerable stresses and strains."
Across the industry the skills shortage will lead to a demand for 70,000 new recruits for each of the next four years, according to the CITB's own forecasts.
Construction in the transport sector will need a large proportion of these recruits, since the government has earmarked £60bn for both road and rail infrastructure as a flagship area of investment in its 10-year plan.
"It seems optimistic," says Martin Hewes of construction analyst Hewes & Associates. "Between 1996 and 2001, there were 34,000 extra people brought in per annum and that was a period of relatively strong growth. To take in 70,000 you'd have to double growth, and do it at a time when the economy is looking weaker. The targets look higher than you'd think was possible."