THE Government is launching a campaign to recruit more Worcestershire school leavers into the construction industry.
Construction Minister Brian Wilson says the industry needs to be more inclusive and treat workers with respect to recruit the next generation of school leavers.
Speaking during National Construction Week this week, Mr Wilson said construction had an image problem on its hands and faced stiff competition from other job sectors.
Sharp decline
Over the past decade, the workforce has aged, with a sharp decline in the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds.
The industry needs 76,000 new recruits each year until 2006 to keep pace with projected construction growth.
"It can no longer limit its recruitment pool by employing so few women or people from ethnic minorities," said Mr Wilson.
"There is an increasing level of awareness within the industry itself that it has to face up to skills shortages by changing its image and treating its workforce with respect."
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