Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndy Burnham's ambitions to build tens of thousands of new council houses are at risk due to a severe shortage of skilled construction workers following Brexit. More than 200,000 EU workers have left the UK construction sector since 2019 due to post-Brexit immigration rule changes and the pandemic. The scaffolding sector alone faces an estimated shortage of 40,000 workers over the next five years, alongside significant vacancies for carpenters and bricklayers. An ageing workforce is worsening the crisis, with around one million additional workers needed over the next decade to replace retirees and meet demand. The trade skills shortage threatens the government's target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029, while Burnham continues to back Labour's red lines on EU free movement. In fullBrexit skills crisis puts Burnham’s council house building pledge under threatMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Why Burnham’s ambition to build thousands of new council houses is at risk
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndy Burnham's ambitions to build tens of thousands of new council houses are at risk due to a severe shortage of skilled construction workers following Brexit. More than 200,000 EU workers have left the UK construction sector since 2019 due to post-Brexit immigration rule changes and the pandemic. The scaffolding sector alone faces an estimated shortage of 40,000 workers over the next five years, alongside significant vacancies for carpenters and bricklayers. An ageing workforce is worsening the crisis, with around one million additional workers needed over the next decade to replace retirees and meet demand. The trade skills shortage threatens the government's target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029, while Burnham continues to back Labour's red lines on EU free movement. In fullBrexit skills crisis puts Burnham’s council house building pledge under threatMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
