The Construction Industry Council is looking at avenues to address the shortage of skilled workers in the industry which remains an issue.

Chief Executive Vijay Naidu says more awareness needs to be made to make Fijians realize the importance of the construction industry.

Naidu says they’re planning to train people locally.

“I think instead of importing workforce from overseas we have got local people who are unemployed. They walk on the streets and do things which they should not be doing so we can train them and help them get a job in the industry.”

Naidu says one of the major reasons for the shortage, is people are regarding construction work as unimportant or inferior to office jobs.