CIOB warns social media ban could stop youngsters from entering the trade, the construction workforce shrinks by 4%, and the government ups AMAP to 55p a mile
The proposed social media ban for under-16s could stop them from entering the construction industry, warned the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB).
Research by the institute found that social media was now one of the most influential factors shaping career choices among young people.
Should a ban be introduced, CIOB wants the government to ensure that access to careers information is improved across other communications channels to fill the gap.
In the CIOB survey, 45% of young people said that construction roles were not covered in school’s careers advice.
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The construction workforce has shrunk by nearly 4% in the last 12 months — that’s according to government figures.
The data for the first quarter reflects ongoing challenges facing the industry around workload uncertainty, recruitment pressures and an ageing workforce.
While the number of self-employed workers dropped only slightly, the employed workforce fell by nearly 6% year-on-year.
The ONS figures also showed a 14% drop in the workforce over the last 20 years.
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The government has increased the Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAP) for cars and vans to 55 pence a mile.
It’s the first change in the mileage rate in over a decade and can be backdated to April of this year.
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