Over 80 percent of construction workers believe Brexit will damage the UK’s industry and prevent high-profile government infrastructure projects from being delivered, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Birmingham City University have been examining the views of people working in the sector to see how they believe jobs, projects and industry will be impacted by Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Results revealed that 88 percent of workers believed the UK relied on EU skilled labour, and 82 percent thought exiting the EU would lead to the collapse of many government infrastructure projects.

The findings also showed that 86 percent of workers expected to see a rise in demand for skilled workers following Brexit, while 92 percent thought freedom of movement was beneficial to the UK’s construction industry.

More than 50 businesses gave feedback for the research project, and one respondent commented: “I believe that this will lead to an intensification of the current skills crisis and could well lead to increases in labour and project costs.”

The study was led by Marwan Mohamed, a recent Built Environment graduate from Birmingham City University, alongside Erika Pärn, a lecturer in Architectural Technology at the university.

The research project, entitled: Brexit: measuring the impact upon skilled labour in the UK construction industry, was produced as part of a final year Honours Research Project or dissertation.

It has since been published in the leading scientific peer-reviewed research journal, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation.

Mr Mohamed said: “This research deals with a topical, historic and unprecedented matter that is currently shrouding the UK construction sector.

“It concludes that the UK construction sector relies upon EU skilled labour, that there is widespread industry opposition to Brexit, and that many within the sector believe Brexit will reduce the supply of skilled labour from the EU rather than increase or enhance it.

“The paper therefore provides pragmatic recommendations to policy-makers and higher education institutes to prevent the risk of Brexit further exacerbating skilled labour shortages within the industry.”

The research also showed that 90 percent of workers thought that other EU countries would be more attractive for migrant workers following Brexit, and that 88 percent felt a labour shortage would affect the UK’s construction industry.

Another respondent said: “I definitely agree that Brexit will impact upon skilled labour coming to this country to work.”

The paper outlines possible solutions to a potential reduction of skilled labour coming to the UK following Brexit, and the limited numbers of young people entering the construction industry. Recommendations include:

• Retaining free movement by remaining in the European Economic Area
• Retaining current workers by increasing wages, providing guaranteed overtime and reducing physical exertion by expanding the use of technology
• Creating more apprenticeship opportunities
• Improving the image of a career in construction to appeal more to young people.

Ms Pärn, lecturer in Architectural Technology, said: 'The publication of this work has not only grabbed the attention and interest of an academic audience but also seeks to engage industry awareness and generate debate on this pressing matter affecting a plethora of built environment professionals.”