Just as the knowledge sector such as IT, ITeS and bio-technology, the Indian construction industry, which is set to witness massive investments in the next five years, is also facing an acute shortage of skilled workforce.

Said CII southern region chairman P K Mohapatra, "Though the construction industry employs about 31 million people, second only to the agriculture sector, the workforce requirement is about 5 million people every year over the next seven years to eight years to sustain the present 8 per cent growth rate."

With only 10 million workforce available in the country every year, the construction industry will face a daunting task in future in terms of recruiting and retaining skilled manpower, as it requires five million people per annum, he said.

Addressing Excon 2007, the fourth edition of earthmoving and construction equipment exhibition here, he said, "If the construction industry has to grow at the present rate, it requires to add about 15 per cent of workforce every year to the existing 31 million people already engaged in the industry.

Giving an example to justify the industry's needs, Mohapatra narrated the story of the Kathipara flyover near the airport in Chennai, which has been prolonged due to shortage of workers.

"The flyover construction seems never-ending, as its contractors are not able to get enough manpower to complete it in phases. With thousands of educated workforce, especially engineering graduates going after lucrative jobs in the knowledge sector (read IT, ITeS and biotech), the industry is also facing an acute shortage of skilled manpower across verticals," Mahapatra lamented.