b'WITHOUT AGGRESSIVE RECRUITMENT, THE SKILLED LABOUR POOL WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE AND SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF INDUSTRIES INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION AND THE MECHANICAL SECTOR.expected to reach their highest levels innearly 80 per cent of these workers, thefor a slim contraction of around one the near term as large numbers of workers20-per-cent labour shortfall adds up toper cent. This virtual flat line of overall from the baby boomer generation exit more than 60,000 workers. construction employment is expected to the industry. Investment growth in 2022 increasedcontinue through 2032.The report forecasts skilled labour inconstruction employment to more thanMechanical industry needs will make up construction will increase by 54,1001.16 million workersan increase ofonly a small percentage of this shortfall, workers by 2032. Add this to the 245,100five per cent compared to 2021. Witheven if including maintenance and retrofit workers forecasted to retire (approximatelyconstruction investment forecastedworker needs. However, the industry still 20 per cent of the 2022 labour force),to contract in 2023, employment ishas a daunting task to attract workers and construction labour force needs willforecasted to decline by four per cent inover the next 10 years. Lets look at two exceed nearly 300,000 by 2032. While thethe residential sector and grow by 1.5areas that the industry should focus on to construction industry feels it can recruitper cent in the non-residential sectoraddress this issue.TESTED.TRUSTED.SINCE 1992.NATIONAL BULLETIN | Issue 1, 202319'