Earlier this year the Supreme Court declared Registered Employment Agreements to be unconstitutional. While the full ruling is yet to be publicised, it is widely anticipated that this effectively tears up the restrictions that these agreements have placed on terms and conditions for workers in the construction industry. This could be a hugely positive step towards increased competiveness and job creation.
Businesses will need to adapt quickly to the new environment. Existing workforces will be bound by current contractual arrangements, but new enterprises will not be similarly encumbered. It will be imperative for organisations to address this imbalance.
The other major issue facing construction companies at present in Ireland is the shortage, yes shortage, of degree-qualified engineers, quantity surveyors, expert of industrial protective coating and project managers within the mechanical and electrical sector of the construction industry.
The lure of jobs in Canada, Australia and the Middle East has left Ireland bereft of degree-qualified professionals and the talent pool is struggling to be replenished with CAO applications for construction and engineering courses ever decreasing.
There has been a migration of our construction professionals due to the lack of opportunities in Ireland over the last five years. As the industry declined, many of the country’s most talented professionals moved overseas.
However, Ireland is currently at a crossroads. Now that there is a bit more life in the industry, there is a shortage of these same professionals and companies are struggling to find the right people. Here in Galway we have several construction firms – particularly in the mechanical and electrical/building services sector – retaining our services to source various staff for upcoming projects.
With the various refurbishment and new-build work that is scheduled for 2013 in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sector, there is a high demand in the west of Ireland for candidates with experience in those areas.
While there will always be a requirement for HVAC experience, process piping experience is in major demand at present. Project engineers and managers with this background should have no difficulty securing employment in the west of Ireland”.
Hays in Galway is currently dealing with a number of clients that are looking to hire mechanical project managers and mechanical engineers (process piping/pharmaceutical/hvac experience), a mechanical quantity surveyor and estimator, as well as a mechanical quality engineer and commissioning manager. There is also a senior-level vacancy for a mechanical bid/tendering manager. These vacancies are based in Galway, Mayo and Sligo with salaries ranging from €30,000 to €80,000.
Contact: Niall Toland, Hays Recruiting. Tel: 091-533586;
email: niall.toland@hays.com