Builders are hiring Portuguese bricklayers on £1,000 a week because not enough British people can do the job. 

Skilled workers are in such short supply they can demand double the normal day pay of £100. 

A month ago the Mail revealed that a similar labour shortage had forced the UK’s biggest sandwich manufacturer to recruit in Hungary because it could not fill its production line with local workers. 

Portugal has become a hot spot for builders while energy firms are hiring Spanish engineers, according to James Hick of recruiters Manpower. 

‘There is a severe shortage of skilled workers in Britain – bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, mechanical engineers, HGV drivers,’ he added. ‘Where they were paying £500 a week at the beginning of the year, the demand for those skills means they are now paying £1,000 a week. 

‘That pressure on skills is huge, particularly in the construction industry in the South East and London.’ He accused UK firms of stopping training courses in the downturn and being left short when construction picked up. ‘That is not something that can be resolved quickly, but companies need people who can work now, so they have had to put up pay and look elsewhere’, he added. 

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1. Which country need skilled workers very much?

A    Portugal.

B    Spain.

C    Britain.

D    Hungary.

2. How much do the skilled workers demand per day now?

A    100

B    200

C    500

D    1000

3. Spanish engineers are hired by__________.

A    energy firms

B    sandwich manufacturers

C    builders

D    food companies

4. Which is NOT in severe shortage in Britain?

A    Taxi drivers.

B    HGV drivers.

C    mechanical engineers.

D    bricklayers.

5. What do the employers have to do in order to hire enough skilled workers?

A    Stop training courses.

B    Reduce the workers’ day pay.

C    Increase the workers’ day pay.

D    Increase the working time.