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1,000 construction workers being
hired monthly - CIF
05.09.16
SOME 1,000 extra
construction workers are being hired each month in
Ireland with more apprenticeships being offered to
meet demand, according to the industry.
Four construction companies are participating in a
new pilot apprenticeship scheme with each company
offering trade and other key skills to participants.
The scheme is being run in conjunction with Solas
and the industry is now hoping for a national
roll-out to "radically increase the quantity of
quality apprenticeships in the industry".
The four participating companies are Clancy
Construction, Cleary Doyle, Mythen Construction and
Anthony Neville Homes.
They plan to share apprentices between them during
the four-year term of the apprenticeships.
Construction Industry Federation (CIF) head of
training Dermot Carey said: “The economic downturn
meant that there wasn’t sufficient activity to
maintain high levels of apprentices in the
construction industry. Those participating in
apprentices dropped nearly 900% from a high of 4,491
in 2007 to 534 in 2011. Currently, activity has
picked up with the industry approaching the
€15billion output mark this year and we’re hiring
1,000 new people every month since late 2014."
Mr Carey added: "As ever, activity and demand move
faster than the time it takes to produce graduates
and apprentices so we may face a skills shortage in
the near term. This shared apprentice scheme is just
one initiative between industry, Solas and the
network of Education and Training Boards around the
country.”
The CIF recently established a website aimed at
companies and students interested in pursuing a
construction apprenticeship. The website is
www.apprentices.ie . |
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