Rising workloads have triggered a rapid rebound in employment prospects across the industry, according to the latest survey by Manpower.

A lack of suitably trained workers has seen building firms in London hire Portuguese bricklayers on £1,000-a-week wages because of a shortage of skilled Britons.

“There is a severe shortage of skilled tradespeople in Britain – bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, mechanical engineers, HGV drivers,” said James Hick of recruiters Manpower.

“Where they were paying £500 a week at the beginning of the year, the demand for those skills means they are now paying £1,000 a week.”

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the first quarter of 2015 covered more than 2,000 firms across all industries.

Construction ranks as the second fastest growing industry for employment opportunities after utility companies which are experiencing a surge in the run up to the next five-year spending programmes.

The balanace of construction firms seeking to hire compared with those not looking to hire staff has risen 9% compared to the the last three months of this year.

Year-on-year the the figure has soared to 16%, the strongest labour market since the last quarter of 2007.

Construction job prospects start to soar

It follows a survey by consultant AECOM which showed one in three contractors are snubbing work in London because of growing skills shortages.

Labour shortages are now the primary driver for price rises, with specialists in concrete and brickwork continuing to be in demand with growing demand for joinery and dry lining.

Electrical engineers are expected be the next profession to see strong pick-up in demand.

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