Builder calls for easier finance

A construction industry leader is warning of huge fallout from the building downturn and calling for action on many fronts.

Richard Carver of Jennian Homes, which has built more than 10,000 places in three decades, wants the Government to address access to finance for building companies and house builders.

But he is also calling for his sector to become more professional.

Up to 60,000 jobs could be lost in the downturn, axing the futures of up to a third of the construction-related workforce, he predicted. The young would be worst-hit.

"Sadly the first to be laid off tend to be apprentices. This completely defeats the last 10 years' investment in building industry capability and training. For the first time in decades the industry was seeing the required number of young people enter the sector. Without incentives for companies to retain their apprentices, the future of the sector will be further eroded.

"We need to break the boom-bust cycle that destroys our industry. We can cope with up to 20 per cent of growth and falls but when we are facing 40 per cent plus reductions in work all we can do is lay off workers," he said.

To read the full NZ Herald Article click here

Posted: 16 Feb 2009

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