Future skills requirements, along with providing a flexible well-qualified workforce, are the key the challenges ahead for the construction industry, according to a new report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

Other key challenges include:

·      In 2008, overall employer satisfaction of employers with chosen agencies in construction was 75%, compared to 68% in other sectors

·      Construction sector employers tend to use more agencies than in other industries, with 13% using six or more and 29% using two agencies

·      Repair and maintenance work accounts for 45% of construction industry turnover – valued at £24.4bn

·      The three most important factors to construction employers when using an agency are low price, candidate quality and familiarity with the agency

·      Conversely, when asked for the biggest drawback was in using agency workers, 21% said it was confidence in candidates provided