A LACK of skilled construction workers - from brickies to surveyors - is pushing up regional wages faster than the national average and poses a risk to key Yorkshire infrastructure projects.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, average construction wages in Yorkshire rose by six per cent in the year to October compared with less than two per in the rest of the UK.

Its latest Construction Market Survey shows that 61 per cent of regional construction professionals have reported wage rises over the period.

Labour shortages have been cited by 46 per cent of construction firms and are seen as the most significant barrier to growth. More than 60 per cent of regional respondents reported a shortage of quantity surveyors and 48 per cent highlighted a lack of bricklayers.

The labour shortages are happening against a background of a steady flow of construction work across Yorkshire.

RICS says 35 per cent of its regional members had reported increased workloads with 57 per cent expecting them to continue rising throughout this year.

The private commercial and private housing sectors remained the key drivers of regional construction activity.

In spite of financial constraints, with lending to the sector falling by a further £274 million in the three months to November and 64 per cent of respondents highlighting continuing financial constraints, 30 per cent of Yorkshire construction professionals said they expect their profit margins to rise in 2016 .

Chris Campbell. chairman the RICS Yorkshire quantity surveying and construction group, said: “While workloads are still growing at a relatively healthy pace, labour shortages in our region’s construction sector is causing delays at different stages in the development process and leading to significant problems with project planning, all of which is proving an impediment to growth.

“That said, industry wages are becoming increasingly attractive, and I would hope that over time this will encourage skilled workers to return to the sector, as well as encourage school leavers and graduates to pursue one of the many challenging and rewarding roles in the construction industry.”

Sally Speed, RICS future talent director, said the Government should deliver a new strategy enabling industry, unions and educators to work together to tackle skills shortages as apprenticeships were not enough.

"Unless Government looks to address the problem urgently, some of its key housing and infrastructure programmes could soon face crippling delays and spiralling costs, " she warned.