South Africa's most wanted construction recruits

It looks like there will be many construction professionals who can beat their national soccer teams to South Africa for the 2012 South African FIFA World Cup. Constructionjobs.ie can confirm that demand is growing for appropriately qualified and experienced senior construction professionals.
Recruits most in demand include:

• Experienced construction contracts managers
• Experienced commercial managers
• Experienced Construction Senior Project Managers and
• Experienced Senior Civil Engineers

Click here for the full story: Construction managers and engineers top South Africa's most wanted list

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Source: Stefanutti Stocks

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Working Abroad Expo

If you are thinking about attending the Working Abroad Expo at the RDS in Dublin today or tomorrow (21 and 22 March) I'd get the skates on. I was there when it opened at 10 this morning and already there were queues of people happily handing over their €10 to get in.

Inside the scene was no different. Within 15 minutes there long queues forming at most stands. What is most striking about the event is the number of young couples talking about emigrating together, not as a result of the failure to get a job in Ireland, but more with a sense of anticipation at the exciting move that lies ahead.

Exhibitors at the event include organizations offering construction jobs, engineering jobs and mining jobs in Canada, specifically Alberta. The two people manning this stand looked like they could do with some help to cope with the throngs looking for work opportunities in Canada. Elsewhere the New Zealand jobs stand was looking for construction project engineers, project managers and construction managers for a major residential development and infrastructure projects and the group tradesrecognition.com was offering assistance to those who may need a liitle help to meet the qualification criteria for construction jobs in Australia.

CIF’s Top 10 Tips to Revive the Irish Economy

The Irish Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has says it has given the Irish Government a get out of jail free card with a 10 point plan to revive the ailing Irish economy and recreate the construction jobs being lost in the current downturn. And all of this will come at no cost to the Irish exchequer. CIF Director General Tome Parlon says: “the 10-point economic plan would cost the Exchequer nothing and in reality would generate significant revenue flows”.

CIF’s 10-Point Plan

1. Stamp Duty holiday for homebuyers until end of 2009 In order to increase the volume of property transactions in 2009, thereby supporting the flow of VAT and other property-related taxes, and re-igniting private consumer-led economic activity, stamp duty on transactions of residential property should be halted until 2010.

2. Tax credit scheme for first- time buyers Mechanisms to release the volume of VAT tied up in built but unsold houses would provide a significant boost to Exchequer receipts and support the national economic recovery.

3. Deliver on planned direct Exchequer capital spending, with particular focus on labour intensive projects within the National Development Plan
Falling construction activity has resulted in lower tender prices across the construction sector, providing the State with a narrow window of opportunity. Because of the enormous labour-intensity of construction work, investment in public building has an immediate payback in terms of employment taxes and wider induced economic and employment activity.

4. Use off-balance sheet funding mechanisms to bring forward additional projects 80% of all Irish pension funds are invested overseas, and mechanisms must be explored to prevent this further flight of capital out of Ireland into overseas property.

5. Stamp duty holiday for commercial developments until end of 2009 In order to attract investment into Irish commercial property, Stamp Duty should be abolished for all property transactions in 2009. Because there are no transactions taking place in any case, this abolition will be cost-neutral, but will promote competitiveness of Irish commercial property compared to our competitor economies.

6. Expedite processing of planning applications at local authority and An Bord Pleanala level Hundreds of planning applications for small-scale residential improvement works and other larger labour intensive developments are currently delayed within the planning system. These applications should be prioritised and dealt with within the statutory time period.

7. Employers holiday on PRSI and PAYE payments to help reduce unemployment Unemployment is going to be the most vicious consequence of this recession. As workers in all sectors of the economy move from being contributors of taxation through their employment to recipients of social welfare benefits, the Exchequer faces a double blow. The most immediate way of countering this is to reduce the costs of PRSI and PAYE contributions during the next year.

8. Prevent banks from stopping overdrafts without six months' notice Construction is an investment activity and as such the banking sector has an important role in ensuring that investment in construction projects can be commenced and continue though the construction cycle. Irish businesses, across all sectors, are facing significant difficulties when dealing with their banks, whose willingness to deliver on their promises no longer exists. Just as with the planning system, a number of employment-protecting construction jobs are ready to commence if only the banking sector would re-open the normal lending procedures.

9. Remove cap on tax deductibility for charitable donations Charitable donations are a vital source of income for all charities in Ireland. But current regulation does not allow charities or corporations to maximise the impact of these charitable donations. Government should instigate reforms to remove the cap on tax deductibility for Irish companies who donate to registered Irish charities.

10. Slash top VAT rate to below UK's until end of 2009 Competition between leading European economies is growing as the volume of world economic activity falls. Ireland’s prohibitively high VAT regime undermines Irish competitiveness compared to the United Kingdom. To prevent further flights of investment from Ireland to Northern Ireland or Great Britain, the top rate of VAT in Ireland should be reduced to below that of the United Kingdom for the remainder of the year.


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UK construction workers urged to “go nuclear”

In the UK retrenched construction workers are being encouraged to upskill to meet the growing recruitment requirements of the UK’s nuclear industry. UK based recruitment firm Scantec Personnel, says the nuclear sector is bucking the recession and has a massive demand for work.

Adam Spelman, the head of Scantec’s nuclear division, said UK-wide opportunities are being created by the Government’s multi billion pound decommissioning programme as well as the construction of a new generation of reactors. He said skills in demand included a wide range of engineers, skilled tradesmen and surveyors.

“The recession is wreaking havoc with the jobs market,” said Adam. “So the key phrase we are repeating to workers is ‘transferable skills’. That is what employers are looking for. Real long term, well paid opportunities exist in the nuclear industry as well as the oil and gas and the bio mass sector.

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"It is important to point out that these sectors are willing to train up staff who have core skills. It is these sectors that workers in the decimated motor industry, construction trade need to look. The advice to workers is talk to recruitment specialists, send in your CV and see how you can pick up work.”

Wind generates construction jobs as well as power

According to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA): “In 2008, more wind power was installed in the EU than any other electricity generating technology.” Statistics released by the EWEA show that 43 percent of all new electricity generating capacity built in the European Union last year was wind energy, exceeding all other technologies including gas, coal and nuclear power. A total of 19,651MW of new power capacity was constructed in the EU last year. Out of this, 8,484MW (43 percent) was wind; 6,932 MW (35 percent) gas; 2,495 MW (13 percent) oil; 762 MW (four percent) coal and; 473MW (two percent) hydropower capacity.

EWEA claims. “for the first time, wind energy is the leading technology in Europe. A total of 64,949MW of installed wind energy capacity was operating in the EU by end 2008, 15% higher than in 2007.

The EWEA's says wind power is the fastest growing technology in Europe for the first time came as it emerged that the US overtook Germany in 2008 to become the world's number one wind power installer.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) says China, whose capacity doubled for the fourth year in a row, was set to reach second place by 2010 – meeting its 2020 target of 30GW 10 years ahead of schedule.

EWEA's figures come at a period of heightened EU debate over the role of nuclear power, with France recently awarding the contract for its second EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) to state-owned EDF.

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Africa may be next construction jobs hotspot

Investment in Africa is on the rise, as the continent would appear to be marginally affected by the economic crises sweeping the world.

UAE ports specialist DP World is the latest company looking to increase its investments in Africa to offset the downturn in other parts of the world. The company already has interests in Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa and is the operator behind the planned £1.5bn London Gateway port in the UK.

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South Africa commits billions to creating residential construction jobs

Housing and the eradication of informal settlements are at the forefront of rteh Sout African government's infrastructure investment plans, according Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.

In his 2009 Budget Speech the Minister indicated that in the next three years, infrastructure grants to municipalities will total R67 bn (€5.2bn), and a further R45 bn (€3.5bn) will be spent on the country’s Breaking New Ground housing programme.

"Together with investment in roads and public transport, these constitute one of the largest areas of expansion of public sector spending, and are rightly prioritised as part of our response to the current deterioration in employment and economic activity," said the minister.

In South Africa, housing delivery increased rapidly between 1994 and 99 and more than 721 813 houses were built in the first five years and more than 892 699 units were built in the second five years.


To address housing needs, particularly in rural areas, the Department of Housing facilitated the delivery of approximately 186,000 incremental housing opportunities between 2004 and 2008 through housing finance provided by the National Housing Finance Development Institutions. During the period from 2004 to 2008, through Breaking New Ground, an estimated 311 600 direct South African construction job opportunities were created in addition to a further 290 750 indirect construction job opportunities, making a total of 602 350 construction job opportunities.

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Irish Construction professionals seek Russian Olympic construction job opportunities

In 2007, China was the coffee shop of Irish business (In Beijing you couldn’t turn a corner without bumping into someone from Ireland looking for a business opportunity). In 2008, the UAE and Saudi Arabia came in to focus, and numerous construction professionals took advantage of good value long haul flights to seek out opportunities in the Middle East. But in 2009 it may be Russia that becomes the next haunt of the somewhat smaller army of Irish developers, architects and engineers who are looking for the next big deal. And there is still plenty of business to be done.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) has become the advance guard of Irish industry, looking to build sustainable business relationships for Irish firms on foreign soils and sands. EI recently brought a group of Irish architects and engineers on trips to Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The delegation of Irish engineers and architects that traveled to Russia visited the little known resort of Sochi, in Southern Russia, which will host the Winter Olympics in 2014. There is after all €2.2bn in deals up for grabs in Sochi.

The group that traveled to Saudi Arabia was looking at ways to get involved in Saudi Arabia’s Grand Designs including an environmental city.

EI, in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the Royal Institute of Architects Ireland (RIAI) and Engineers Ireland has embarked on a number of “Leadership for Growth” programmes aimed at exporting the expertise garnered by Irish construction firms, Irish architects and Irish engineers in the past few years.

EI says nearly 100 company executives are completing the Enterprise Ireland’s international selling programme, which is made up of eight training modules.

See also Exporting the Tiger


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€900m schools programme could create 3,300 construction jobs

Irish Minister for Education Batt O’Keefe TD has said that up to 3,300 Irish construction jobs could be created in 2009 through the Government’s €900m schools building programme.
Up to €580m has been allocated for construction and upgrading of new primary and post-primary schools. Third level facilities have been allocated €265million.

Minister O Keefe surmises: “Some economic commentators work to the principle that every €255,000 of investment in construction activity is likely to generate a single job. Applying this theory to my capital programme should ensure that around 3,300 construction jobs will be secured this year.”

A number of schools are planned for construction in 2009 as part of the public-private partnership (PPP) programme.

Other relevant stories

Maynooth university library project to create 150 new Irish construction jobs

Job opportunities in education rollout


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2,000 construction jobs for North Dublin

The Irish construction industry may not after all be in a free falling downturn. In 2009 the Irish construction industry has dusted itself down from the hammering it took in 2008 and a number of significant Irish construction jobs opportunities will emerge in the coming months. Foremost amongst these construction job opportunities will be Treasury Holdings’ €800m Spring Cross, Ballymun Town Centre regeneration scheme.

The developer expects to get to work on the final part of the Ballymun Regeneration scheme in North Dublin in the coming months, and says that 2,000 construction jobs will be created by the development during the projects three-year construction programme, which will finish in 2012.

The development will include over 60,000 sq m of retail space, 28,000 sq m of office space and over 11,000 sq m of leisure facilities.

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