A survey of house builders found 57% reporting problems recruiting suitable site managers, quantity surveyors and site operatives.

One warned: “If you turn up production another 10% I think we are all going to be in trouble.”

Four out of 10 subcontractors said they were having difficulty hiring good workers now.

The report also revealed the economic downturn saw 40% of jobs shed from the industry and seen a third of companies spending less on training than five years ago.

Today’s Home Building Skills report  is published by the Home Builders Federation, National House Building Council, Construction Industry Training Board and the Zero Carbon Hub found the appetite for training apprentices is changing.

It found that 50% of all home builders and 80% of housing associations are taking on an apprentice this year.

Mike Quinton, Chief Executive of NHBC, said: “Everyone has known for some time about the ageing workforce and the impact of the recession on our industry’s ability to attract and retain skilled workers.

“As the home building industry shows the first signs of growth after several years, we are now hearing increasing alarm about the availability of the right people with the right skills to allow us to maximise these opportunities for growth.”

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman at HBF said: “With a new planning system in place and the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme addressing the constraint on buyers, optimism is increasing.

“As it has done after previous downturns, the industry is now looking to step up and ensure it develops the capacity to build more homes. It is vital we plan now to ensure we have the skills to increase supply to the required level.”

The report further identified the need to address the skills gaps across the home building sector by creating a better link between the workforce and its training needs.

The housing group’s have launched a new skills portal that signposts people to training, skills and qualifications in the housing industry.

Rob Lockey, Training Services Manager, NHBC, added: “The portal provides an important pan-industry response to help tackle these skills shortages – to make it faster and easier for existing employees and new entrants to see what skills and qualifications are needed now and in the future, to support their career plans and to get them registering for training as quickly as possible.”

The Home Building Skills website offers advice on all the different job roles, career routes, and learning resource and qualifications information from national training providers.

All colleges and training providers offering support to any job role in UK home building are being urged to upload information to the portal for free.