There are plenty of reasons to come home this year

Opportunities in construction for those returning home are growing:

Ten years ago the number of people directly employed in the construction industry reached a peak in excess of 270,000. As our economy crashed, our industry convulsed and by 2013 those numbers had fallen to less than 100,000. While many skilled workers chose to leave construction altogether, thousands more sought to earn a living in the UK, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, Scandinavia and the Benelux countries.

From the trough of 2013, the construction industry has gradually returned to expansion and at the end of 2016 all indicators point to sustainable long-term growth.

Now many people are considering returning to Ireland.

There are two key issues for these people deciding to return to Ireland:  (a) opportunities and continuity of work and (b) acceptable pay rates and employment terms and conditions.

As we commence 2017, both can be answered in the affirmative. Major investments in housing and infrastructure are underway and planned, and the CIF is actively pursuing the enactment of a new legally binding SEO (Sectoral Employment Order) to address the stability of pay rates and employment terms.

For our core business of labour-only contracting for all types of concrete -frame work, ICDS Constructors Ltd. are actively seeking:

• Site Foremen
• Site Engineers/Technicians
• Charge-hands- (Shuttering & Steelfixing)
• Shuttering Carpenters
• Steelfixers
• Concrete workers

The above trades are in short supply particularly in Leinster and Munster and ICDS Constructors Ltd. and many other CIF members would welcome the return by any of the above from the Irish diaspora.

Of course there are many other reasons why people would return home; Barry’s tea, junior hurling and Tayto crisps…What are your reasons for returning home?

Tom McHugh Construction Director with ICDS.