40,000 workers needed for quake repairs

12:40 pm on 23 May 2012

A new report says up to 40,000 construction workers may be needed in Christchurch in the next few years to meet the demand for quake repairs.

The Built Environment Training Alliance has issued a report on the expected demand .

Chief executive Philip Aldridge says the latest forecast of demand is that 40,000 workers will needed by the end of next year.

He says this would be an 84% increase on the current size of the workforce in Christchurch.

Mr Aldridge says consenting issues and further aftershocks have caused work on the rebuild to be delayed.

He says this means much of this demand could be met by providing sufficient training for workers within New Zealand.