Labour shortage ‘challenges’ construction boom

Minister of Technological and Vocational Training Sandra Husbands has warned that Barbados does not have enough skilled workers to meet demand amid a construction boom.

As the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council’s launched Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference (BACDC), Husbands said the shortage was being felt across the industry as a surge in hotel developments, road works, renewable energy projects, commercial buildings and public infrastructure projects continues.

She told reporters: “When you look around our country, what is it you’re seeing? We are seeing hotels being refurbished and expanded. We are seeing new hotels being built. And then there’s some that are still to come.”