“The collapse of construction activity during the recession followed by the gradual economic recovery experienced over the past five years including strong performance in export earnings and steady population growth have all combined to arrive at a point where there is now a significant skills demand within the construction sector. This skills demand is projected to escalate significantly over the next three years. This has been clearly identified in the CIF commissioned report on Construction Skills by DKM Consultants. The challenge for the sectors and the State, through the education and training providers, is to develop responses to the known skills shortages. Innovative responses supported by the construction sector are now required” as reported by CIF.

Against this backdrop, the CIF in partnership with the South East Regional Skills Forum ran a workshop on Thursday 30th March at the WIT Arena to address future skills needs for the construction sector in the South East. Deirdre Keogh, Sales & Marketing Manager, AirconMech, attended the workshop. The workshop forms the starting point in identifying what are the current and future construction skills needs in the South East and how CIF can work to ensure they are met. The information gathered at the event will be used to advise the education and training providers in the region and to draw up solutions.