THE SLOWDOWN in the building trade was highlighted in Dublin over the weekend as the State employment agency Fás hosted an international jobs fair for the construction sector.
Recruitment and training companies from the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovakia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Poland travelled to the event to offer workers who have lost their jobs or seen their trade slow an opportunity to find employment abroad.
The latest Central Statistic Office employment figures for the construction industry show an annual drop of 14 per cent. The index has been falling for the past year, and the latest drop, for April, showed an acceleration on previous months.
Fás said thousands of construction jobs were on offer, and there was much interest in the event which took place in D'Olier Street on Friday and Saturday.
Kevin Quinn, Fás manager of International Employment Services, said Ireland had been looking abroad for construction workers for a long time but now the building industry was booming in many old recruiting grounds.
"These nations are aware the Irish construction sector is going down, and going down fast, so they are taking their opportunity to get in and bring some of their workers home."
Mr Quinn said a "steady stream" of Irish construction workers also attended the event, which was visited by 500 people during its first hour.
"Irish workers in the construction sector have always been mobile and willing to travel to find work. I've been surprised by the number who have shown an interest so far."
Dublin-based roofer Ciarán Murphy said he was willing to look abroad for work since the construction sector in Ireland had taken a turn for the worst.
He said he and 20 colleagues had been "let go" by their employer, and he was willing to be adventurous to find a job.
"I think a lot of Irish people are willing to move abroad to find work. I'd like to go to Scotland because the language would make it much easier to work there."
Marius Kubica, a Polish block layer, said he and many country men were looking to move. "Ireland has been a good place to work for years, but now there are not as many jobs for us and we have to consider going home or moving to another country."
One of the exhibitors was Lee Grimes of the UK recruiter Carillion. He said big contracts like the 2012 Olympics in London have created a lot of employment and a major need for construction workers in England. Members of the Irish construction sector were well qualified and his agency "would love to have them on board".
"Quite literally we have work from London to Scotland, and we want to absorb as many people as possible."
