The latest economic forecast data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) suggests the UK’s overall GDP rate should improve by around 3% in the next twelve months whilst showing the construction industry is set to continue the recovery phase for over the coming two years.


The report explains that the construction industry should grow by around 4.9% in 2014 in full-year terms with growth rates of between 1.6% and 1.9% growth rates over 2015 and 2016.


The BCC suggests that construction’s fast rate of apprenticeship growth is beginning to plug the skills gap that the industry has suffered since the recession whilst providing much needed skilled opportunities for young people.
BCC research suggests the number of 16 -24 year olds who are unemployed should drop to 533,000 by the third quarter of 2017 from today’s rate of 737,000.


BCC director general John Longworth said the UK should remain one of the world’s quickest-growing developed economies this year and the construction industry will play a major role in this development.


He added: “This is a great achievement, and businesses up and down the country should be congratulated for their hard work and resolve to drive the recovery in the face of challenges and uncertainty both at home and abroad.”