SKILLS shortages in the building industry are affecting the economic recovery, according to a recent survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, chief executive, said: “More than a third of construction SMEs tell us that they are struggling to recruit the bricklayers they need to stay on top of their workloads. Plasterers are almost as difficult to come by with 27 per cent of firms saying they are having difficulty finding them.

“The results act as a warning that the government must not take the recovery in the construction sector for granted.

Although this snapshot of small construction firms marks the fifth consecutive quarter of positive results, if we don’t have enough of the right people to complete the work, projects could be stalled across the board.”

Mr Berry said SMEs were hugely concerned about the impact of the government’s apprenticeship funding reforms.

He said: “If they are implemented as proposed, most micro-businesses, which train two-thirds of construction apprentices, are likely to stop hiring apprentices.”