According to the latest Report on Jobs, compiled by Markit and published by KPMG and the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), job vacancies for construction staff continued to rise in August, but at a slower pace than in July.

The new report reveals that construction was in sixth place out of nine in the demand for permanent staff ‘league table’ in this latest survey period. At 61.9, the index measuring demand for permanent construction employees was down from July’s 11-month high of 68.3, although it still pointed to a strong rate of expansion overall.

The index for temporary/contract construction workers posted 57.5 in August. This was down from 69.6 in July, and left the sector in eighth place out of nine in the demand for temporary staff ‘league table’.

Head of Infrastructure, Building and Construction at KPMG, Richard Threlfall, said: “There was no respite for construction managers in August, who faced an even bigger struggle to find workers after a vast swathe of Britain’s labourers appeared to take the summer off. The number of people looking for jobs in the sector fell, putting more construction projects under pressure from a shortfall in workforce.

He added: “With construction demand expected to continue rising through the next few years, the skills shortage remains the number one challenge for the industry.”