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Surging workloads in the sector are exacerbating shortages among skilled professionals such as QSs, a new RICS report claims.

The latest construction market survey reported a "severe shortage of surveyors and other construction professionals, with the problem more acute than for trades persons". The survey found that 36% of respondents reported skills shortages, the highest level since the first quarter of 2005. It said it was difficult to determine whether the rise in a shortage of trades was down to healthy market conditions or if the flow of new workers from Eastern Europe was starting to dry up.

The report found that workloads were increasing at the the fastest pace since the second quarter of 2004, with the strongest sectors being commercial work and infrastructure.

In terms of regions the survey found that Scotland and Wales were experiencing the most market growth in the period, with Northern Ireland and the Southwest seeing the slowest growth.

The survey also pointed to a reduction in optimism regarding industry profit levels. This could be due to a return to higher wages and higher prices for raw materials such as steel and copper and energy costs.