UK boss says labour leaving UK market

Aecom’s UK boss has warned the country’s construction sector is already suffering an “exodus” of workers as Brexit talks crunch into gear.

Patrick Flaherty, the firm’s UK and Ireland chief executive, said Brexit would worsen existing skills shortages and this had strengthened the case for the sector to invest in off-site manufacturing.

Flaherty (pictured) said: “I think we are seeing an exodus of construction labour out of the UK market, especially with the fall in value of the pound.

“So looking at different methods of off-site manufacturing and ways to deliver projects without having such a sizeable workforce at a construction site certainly is the way the industry is moving.”

Flaherty warned the UK still needs access to overseas talent to support projects in the UK.

He said Aecom has over 1,000 non-UK nationals working in the UK and the business would like an early decision on their rights to live in the UK.

 

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