RICS has submitted evidence to the Migration Advisory Committee – the government body tasked with identifying gaps in the labour market which migration could help fill – on those professions within RICS that are facing a skills supply shortage. 

RICS believes that ongoing action is required to address the long-term shortage of skilled professionals in the construction industry (that is, those workers categorised under tier 2 of the new regime). Failure to address this will mean that government will be unable to meet its targets for housing (3m new homes by 2020), for improving the rail network (£15bn investment over the next five years), and for delivering the 2012 Olympics on time and to budget. 

In order to help alleviate the shortages, the Migration Advisory Committee can, we believe, take two separate actions. Firstly, keep 'quantity surveyor' on the National Shortage Occupation list and, secondly, add project managers for property development and construction.

For more information regarding RICS's position, please contact Damian Cleghorn, RICS Policy Officer on T +44 (0)207 334 3838 or via DCleghorn@rics.org