A shortage of skilled tradespeople is threatening to undermine a resurgence in the Scottish construction industry, according to a leading representative organisation.
The Federation of Master Builders (Scotland) says small construction firms are struggling to find enough bricklayers, joiners, electricians and plumbers.
The shortage is hampering efforts to respond to an eight-year high in activity levels as the industry recovers from the economic downturn.
The issue was previously highlighted by Scottish building magnate Stewart Milne who called construction trades to be more valued by society.
Gordon Nelson, director of FMB Scotland, said it was very encouraging that construction workloads are increasing after the longest and deepest economic downturn in living memory.
With an FMB state of trade survey for the second quarter of this year marking the highest activity level for eight years, it felt like the industry is finally turning a corner and there is real confidence that the recovery will continue.
He continued: “Small construction firms are worried that the skills shortage impacting on the construction industry will mean they cannot cope with the increased workloads they are expecting.
“There is the real danger that if professional builders, like the ones we represent, are unable to meet the demand for new work, rogue traders may swoop in.”
Consumers would be at risk of poor workmanship under this scenario.
He welcomed a near 60% increase in modern apprenticeships in Scotland since 2007 but said more needs to be done to boost construction apprenticeship numbers.
He called for the industry to work with the Scottish Government to beat the target of 30,000 apprenticeships by 2020.