A shortage of skilled construction workers has prompted the National Housing Corporation (NHC) to accelerate efforts to recruit and train young people as housing development expands across Barbados, general manager Ian Gill said Friday.

“Because of the expansion of construction in this country, we’re going to have a shortage of talent, and we’re hoping that these young people can be trained quickly and can gain that knowledge that we can add that additional talent at the National Housing Corporation,” he said as ground broke on a 34-home project at Deanstown, St James.

The NHC has been working with the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to train young people for the construction industry.