Thousands still on furlough ‘making labour shortages worse'

By Tom Lowe2021-06-21T05:00:00

More jobs are available but employers can find fewer workers to do them

The extension of the furlough scheme is contributing to labour shortages within the construction industry, the CITB has warned. Latest official figures show that the scheme was still being used by nearly 170,000 workers, or 13% of the construction workforce, at the end of April.

The scheme, which has been extended until the end of September, was still being used by nearly 73,000 firms at the end of April, 30% of those within the sector. But the CITB said it was now contributing to a squeeze on labour amid a faster than expected resurgence of demand following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

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