The Northern Ireland Executive must do more to assist the construction sector by ensuring announced projects go ahead, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey for Q4 2014 show that out of the four home nations, Northern Ireland’s net balance was the only one to slip back into negative territory.

Maire Nawaz, Northern Ireland Director of the FMB, said “The latest negative results for Northern Ireland correspond closely to recent figures from the RICS Construction Market Survey and are really disappointing for our sector. The NI Executive must ensure it follows through on the infrastructure and capital expenditure projects it has committed to in order to assist the local construction sector.”

Results from the survey also show that construction firms are experiencing skills shortages across a number of trades and professions in particular carpenters, joiners and bricklayers.

Nawaz continued: “The skills shortage has arisen for a number of reasons. Many construction workers have left the industry since the downturn in 2007 and a high proportion of these will never return. In addition, construction has become an export industry for Northern Ireland as many firms have been forced to seek work in Great Britain and Europe. This is unsurprising given the lack of certainty around public sector construction projects in the province.”

Nawaz concluded: “The Executive must assist the local construction sector by restoring faith and guaranteeing planned projects go ahead without delay. The protection of jobs in the construction sector and the safeguarding of skills must be an urgent priority for the NI Executive.”