The Effects of Job Losses in House-Building

What's more the construction industry was a majororganizations are in much more risk of folding entirely.
employer of graduates, with a third of new positionsAlso like the swinging ball executive toy the cuts in
being offered to university leavers. Unfortunately thesehouse building are affecting all the other jobs within the
figures were estimated during a time of financialconstruction industry. Managerial staff, and desk-based
stability and a rising market. Now with the credit crunchstaff are being affected along with builders and other
the construction industry is being threatened just asground-level workers.
much, if not more, than other market sectors.Similar trends are being seen in the USA and
Construction jobs cover a vast area of the job marketpractically all countries around the world. One of the
including such diverse building services as: infrastructureworst hit is Ireland and the situation there could be
repair and maintenance; public and private houseseen as a precursor of what is going to happen in the
building; and the building of factories, hospitals andUK. It is now being commonly agreed that a recession
schools. All of these areas are threatened. Perhapsis approaching, although the severity of this recession
the worse hit is the residential house building market asis being hotly debated. Within the construction sector
falling house prices are meaning that people are pullingthe length of this recession is being estimated at one
out of property buying altogether.to three years depending on which expert you ask.
At the beginning of July 2008 The Times Online toldSo as you can see the job losses in the house building
how Barrett Developments, one of the UK's leadmarket have had far reaching effects on the
construction companies, made around 1000 redundantconstruction industry as a whole. Not only are there
in just one day. Over two days the redundancy figureconstruction job cuts left, right and centre at a ground
hit a staggering 2500 people. As well as all of theseroots level but these are affecting jobs at all levels
job cuts the company's shares have also dropped bywithin the sector. Added to this companies are moving,
97% since a peak in February 2007. Regional officesor selling regional offices completely, meaning still more
are being merged or closed entirely. Similar trends arejob cuts. What's more the rocky period is believe to
being echoed throughout the market sector.have just begun and to be lasting for at least another
All of these factors add up to an unprecedented dropyear meaning that we have a long way to go yet.
in the sector as mortgages become more difficult toAt a time like this a construction recruitment specialist
secure and as the economy weakens generally. Notcan really help you find the best, most secure openings
only are the larger companies, such as Barrettand advise you on how best to pursue your career
Developments being hit, so are mid-level companiesmove within the current economic climate.
and smaller companies. In fact the mid-range and small