Brexit: measuring the impact upon skilled labour in the UK construction industry

Mohamed, Marwan and Parn, Erika and Edwards, D.J. (2017) Brexit: measuring the impact upon skilled labour in the UK construction industry. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 35 (3). pp. 264-279. ISSN 2398-4708

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-05-2017-0023

Abstract

Purpose
This paper presents an understanding of the potential impact of Brexit upon the United Kingdom (UK) construction industry. Specifically, the work analyses the construction industry’s reliance upon European Union (EU) skilled labour and seeks to determine the potential impact that Brexit poses upon EU skilled labour entering the sector.

Design/methodology/approach
A perceptual questionnaire survey was used to elicit responses from construction professionals using the two techniques of opportunity and snowballing non-probability sampling. Summary statistical analysis of Boolean and Likert item scale data accrued was employed to elucidate upon respondents’ perceptions.

Findings
The majority of survey participants either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that the UK construction industry relies upon EU skilled labour and that a career in the sector would not be attractive for foreign skilled labour post-Brexit. Future research proposed includes: predicting future trends in labour supply and demand and deriving new policies to address skills shortage imbalances that may be created by Brexit.

Originality/value
Original insight into an historic and unprecedented moment for the UK construction industry is presented. The work also provides pragmatic recommendations to policy makers and Higher Education Institutes to prevent the risk of Brexit further exacerbating skilled labour shortages within the industry.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1108/IJBPA-05-2017-0023
Dates:	Date Event 21 July 2017 Accepted August 2017 Published
Subjects:	CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-02 - building
Divisions:	Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > College of Built Environment
Depositing User:	Oana-Andreea Dumitrascu
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2017 09:54
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2024 11:46
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/5017