• CCI to import skilled construction workers
• Growing shortage of skilled workers

The Chamber of Construction Industry’s (CCI) request seeking permission to import around 7,500 workers to meet the urgent demand for construction work has sent a ripple of excitement through the corridors of the Government, the Tertiary Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), heavy-engineering companies and unemployed youth at large. The Chamber has justified its demand in the existing mismatch between the demand and the supply of skilled labour in the construction industry has become a hurdle for the completion of the reconstruction and renovation work in this sector, especially in the context of a situation where massive environmental damages was caused by cyclone Ditwah. 

 The growing shortage of skilled construction workers

 The construction industry faces a critical, growing shortage of skilled workers — such as masons, carpenters, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technicians — driven by an ageing workforce, high retirement rates, and a lack of young talent entering the field. This shortage leads to significant project delays, budget overruns, and higher rates of rework. There is a heavy tendency of low job attractiveness in the construction sector in that this industry is perceived as having low remuneration, poor working conditions and temporary employment. The quality of vocational training (VT) and education facilities and a lack of focus on the demand and supply worsen the current situation, creating a significant gap.

The escalating migration of skilled construction workers

An analysis of the migration of the skilled workers compiled by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) discloses a startling revelation of the home-truth of the current trend of the migration of skilled workers pattern, thus hampering the progress of the construction industry. A total of 50,200 have sought greener pastures during the 10 year period of 2015 to 2020. But, this pattern has taken a trend for the worse from 2021 to last year (2025) (five years and two months of this year [2026]), surpassing the migration pattern of 2015 to 2020. This is an undeniable truth that no one can dispute or challenge. Can a vital industry that contributes more than 10 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) survive in the economy in the face of the heavy migration trend is the question that demands an answer. 

Where SL’s skilled workers are going

This article would not be complete if the names of the countries to which our skilled workers have migrated during the last five years are not recorded for the information of the readers and policy makers - Qatar 16,580, Israel 13,137, UAE 6,944, Saudi Arabia 4,738, Romania 4,328, the Maldives 3,490, the Seychelles 1,238, Turkey 1,710, Kuwait 948, and Oman 649. 

The brain drain of construction professionals

The brain drain of engineers to seek better wages and opportunities in the Middle East (ME) and other foreign markets have equally contributed to the downfall of the construction industry. The truthfulness of this argument is ascertained by analysing the statistical data compiled by the SLBFE. A total of 16,737 have left the shores for greener pastures over the last 15 years, and this situations has worsened over the last five years. 

A sector recovering — but without its workforce

The construction sector’s recovery over the last two years has been commendable by the resumption of stalled infrastructure projects, increased Government capital expenditure (approximately 4 per cent) of the GDP and the rising demand for residential and tourism related construction. The notable price reduction of construction materials from the historic highs in 2022 too has provided a huge relief to the construction industry, though few complain that supplies of electrical items have seen an exorbitant increase.  Prior to 2019, the construction industry employed 600,000 workers which has now plummeted to 350,000 owing to the brain drain. As a result, the industry is now badly handicapped by the lack of both professionals and skilled workers. The exodus of trained professionals and skilled workers is a huge jolt to the industry because trained workers cannot be replaced easily. 

Why young Sri Lankans are avoiding construction trades

Another attitudinal problem on the part of the youth has equally or more affected the construction and heavy-engineering industry. The modern-day youth are not interested in getting employed in physically strenuous jobs. The advent of ride-hailing platforms like PickMe and Uber has provided more convenient income generation opportunities for the youth, causing the industry to attract and retain youngsters to vocations that are associated with demanding working conditions. 

 The declining output of skilled craftsmen

No. of NVQ Certificates issued to Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Wood Craftsman (Furniture), Electrician, Plumber, and Construction Craftsman (Masons) trainees for the period 2023 to 2025

Statistical data from the SLBFE reveal a dramatic escalation in the migration of skilled workers in recent years. 

• The lowest number of trainees has enrolled for the masonry trade followed by the wood craftsman trade (furniture).
• Annual intake for National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) courses has seen an appreciable increase since 2020.
• A substantial number of trainees are reported to have abandoned courses after gaining NVQ Level Three qualifications. 
• To gain a professional skill, a trainee should possess at least NVQ Four standard qualification. 
• The country needs to produce at least 10,000 craftsmen annually, covering the above trades and this abysmal trend has to be seriously addressed by the policymakers and regulators, if the construction industry is to thrive in the long run. 
• The Government should seriously think of retaining the trainees who qualify NVQ level Three and Four qualifications by paying them an incentive or an enhanced allowance so that substantial foreign exchange can be saved without importing skilled labour. 
• It is strongly suggested that children of poverty-ridden families such as Samurdhi or Prajashakthi beneficiaries be rigourously pursued to enroll for these craftsman courses, without penalising the monthly dole given to the paterfamilias. An out of the box approach is the need of the hour, as the construction industry is confronted with an acute shortage of skilled workmen. 
• The Galle District Secretary’s initiative of arranging a platform for the children of Samurdhi families with the intervention of the Samurdhi Development Department is commendable.

Rethinking the role of the VT system

 One would naturally get the impression whether the mandatory role played by the regulator, namely the TVEC, has acted strictly within the scope of its legislative enactment in producing the manpower required for the construction and welding sectors. The plea of the CCI is symbolically important as its request to import foreign skilled workers manifestly disclose the deeper institutional failures that the CCI request has laid bare. 

The solution is not the import of skilled workmen from India or Bangladesh. Sri Lanka should have strategically planned and acted upon to devise ways and means of producing the manpower requirement needed by the country, thus realising the exodus of skilled craftsmen and welders. 

The TVEC currently operates as a regulatory body focused on compliance rather than national power planning. This is a fundamental misalignment. With nearly three million unemployed youth desperately waiting for VT, the TVEC should function as the country’s primary engine for skills-based mobility. Hence, a radical shift from institution accreditation to labour market driven training and from passive regulation to proactive workforce deployment is thoroughly advocated. 

A word of caution on importing foreign labour

The delicate issue of the request from the CCI should be dealt with more cautiously without opening floodgate for Indian and Bangladeshi labour. The country has learnt a bitter lesson by allowing Indian labour to dominate the Sri Lankan welding sector, thus closing job opportunities for local welders who are now languishing without job avenues. 

The proposal to import foreign labour may offer temporary relief to an industry struggling with severe workforce shortages. However, unless Sri Lanka reforms its VT system and creates incentives to retain skilled workers, the country risks becoming permanently dependent on imported labour for one of its most critical sectors.

The writer is a productivity and management consultant

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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication