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management & education news

CHECKATRADE BOSS WARNS OF

SHORTAGE OF SKILLED TRADE WORKERS

says 80 per cent of homeowners are
going to improve their home this year
but they can only do that if we have
sufficient trades to do those home
improvements,” he said.
“We are all living and working in our
homes more, we want more doing, so I
think this is an ongoing phenomenon.”
Mr Harpin suggested two solutions
to solve the shortage in skilled workers
– a short-term move to expand the
government’s shortage of occupations list,
and then a longer-term plan to get more
school leavers to take up apprenticeships,
rather than going to university.
“What we are asking for on the points
system these skilled trades get enough
points so they [the EU workers] can
come back,” he said.
“Currently, if you’re an IT analyst,
a vet or a graphic designer you can
come back to UK, but it doesn’t include
bathroom fitters, kitchen installers,
fencers, tree surgeons, locksmiths.
MORE SCHOOL LEAVERS ARE
NEEDED FOR APPRENTICESHIPS There’s a very long list,” he said.
Industry bodies warned construction
A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED trade employers should invest in UK workers, skills shortages were “hampering the
workers has developed as European according to the BBC. activities of many small building firms”.
Union migrants leave the UK and Mr Harpin, whose company also A recent report found all jobs vacancies
demand for home improvements rises, operates Checkatrade, told BBC Radio in the UK were soaring but there were not
the founder of Homeserve has said. Four’s Today programme he believed enough workers to fill positions.
Chief Executive Richard Harpin said shortages were being caused by “mainly KPMG said the easing of Covid
the shortages were “pretty bad” across EU migrant workers going home”. restrictions and reopening of various
the country, not just in construction but He said it was “really important sectors meant demand for workers
in other trades too. that we find a way to get them back” rose at its fastest rate in May for more
He wants the government to put in order to cope with the “massive than 23 years, but the number of staff
more trades on its jobs shortage list. demand” for work. available to fill those jobs declined at
Meanwhile, the Home Office has said “Our research in Checkatrade the quickest rate since 2017.

MORE UK WORKERS FURLOUGHED THAN FIRST ESTIMATED, DATA SHOWS

MORE BRITISH WORKERS were people were furloughed in late May.
furloughed in late May than first “Higher numbers on furlough than
estimated, according to new expected does mean a bumpier ride
government data that pointed to a less in aggregate, and more individuals
optimistic outlook for unemployment at risk of unemployment in the
than previously thought. months ahead,” Torsten Bell, the
The finance ministry said 2.4 Chief Executive of the Resolution
million people remained fully Foundation think tank, said on Twitter.
or partially on the government’s Chancellor Rishi Sunak plans
Coronavirus Job Retention scheme at to close the furlough scheme
the end of May, down from a peak of altogether at the end of September.
almost nine million in May 2020. The government has reduced its
Reuters reports that early estimates contribution to the pay of
published by the Office for National furloughed workers to 70 per cent
2.4 MILLION PEOPLE REMAINED
Statistics had shown 1.7 million from 80 per cent. FULLY OR PARTIALLY FURLOUGHED

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