Caithness building firms upbeat in face of slowdown
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THE construction industry in the Far North is as healthy as ever, according to local firms.
It comes in contrast to figures released from the Office for National Statistics which reveal a quarter of all unemployed people in the sector in the Highland Council area are based in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
Out of 205 jobless construction workers, 60 are living in the constituency.
The worst-effected areas are carpentry and joinery with 75 people currently out of work. A third of these people are living in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross region.
But, despite the figures, construction firms in Caithness contacted by the Groat this week reported they are bucking the downward trend. John Sutherland, managing director of JW Sutherland Property Developers, believes the local construction ?industry is in as good a position as it ever has been.
In the last two years, his company has received more orders than since it was first established in 1985.
“We’ve had to take more people on as a result of the amount of orders that we’ve received. I have no idea how this is the case during a recession, but we have no problem taking on work.
“The housing market has suffered a dip in the last few years but we are receiving a lot of building orders throughout Britain.
“I think that Caithness is in a stronger position than in other areas of the country due to renewable industry development. This is bringing a lot of opportunities to construction firms in the North.”
David Gunn, managing director of John Gunn & Sons, Lybster, said the sector in Caithness is buoyant.
He argued, however, that the county’s recovery is maybe giving a false impression of the ?situation elsewhere. “I can’t say the construction industry is recovering as well in the rest of the country,” he said.
“But we have orders to keep us busy into next year. It was fair to say that in 2009 the industry did suffer as a result of the recession. But it did improve in 2010 and this year it has picked up even more.”
He added: “We are getting a lot of work through developments in the renewable industry and the decommissioning of Dounreay. As a result we have been able to take on four new employees.
“But in the rest of Scotland the industry is still suffering as they don’t have the same opportunities which exist here.”
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart spoke out after the release of the figures.
He claimed the Scottish Government needed to put more effort into getting people back into work in a vital industry.
“Economic growth in the Highlands depends upon an active construction sector. Failure to invest in our housing, schools and health service means a dearth of work for this highly skilled industry.
“This, in turn, impacts upon the fortunes of supporting sectors, and small and medium-sized businesses. Construction is an essential part of the Highland economy.
“It requires much more Government assistance to retain and re-employ those whose skills will help to reverse the slowdown in economic growth.”
WORKERS LOOKING FOR A JOB
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
Bricklayers 10
Roofers, roof tilers and slaters 5
Plumbers, heating and ventilating engineers 5
Carpenters and joiners 25
Plasterers 5
Painters and decorators 10
Total 60
Highland Council area
Steel erectors 5
Bricklayers, masons 25
Roofers, roof tilers and slaters 15
Plumbers, heating and ventilating engineers 25
Carpenters and joiners 80
Plasterers 10
Floorers and wall tilers 10
Painters and decorators 35
Total 205
