A shortage of architects and engineers in the local construction industry in 2008 has eased this year as a result of the global financial crisis, according to developers.

YANGON-based construction firms said last week the skilled labour shortage in Myanmar has eased significantly as a result of the global financial crisis.

U Ko Ko Lay, a director of Three Friends Construction, said from 2006 to 2008 the industry experience a significant shortage of skilled workers, particularly engineers and architects.

“Those two or three years were the worst we have seen for labour shortages. Our company alone lost 50 engineers and architects during that time because they moved abroad, where there were good employment opportunities and higher salaries. These skilled workers could get up to S$4000 a month working in Singapore,” he said. “But because of the global recession, the Singapore economy has been in decline since the start of 2009 so we are seeing very few Myanmar technicians leaving to find work abroad,” he said.

“So far this year, no technicians have quit our construction company and I would say this is a positive sign for the industry. Our firm has 30 to 50 senior engineers and architects now,” he said on August 28.

Locally, salaries range from K150,000 to K200,000 a month for structural engineers and K300,000 to K500,000 a month for architects.

U Ko Ko Lay said despite the global downturn it was important local construction firms continued to increase salaries for local workers, as salary is usually the determining factor in a worker’s decision to move abroad.

“We don’t give salaries lower than the industry standard. And this year we raised the salaries of our engineers and architects by 20 percent,” he added.

U Lazarus, the managing director of Yadanar Shwe Htun Construction, agreed the skilled labour shortage had dissipated in 2009.

“The construction industry faced a desperate need for skilled labour in 2008 but this year is much better,” he said. “Last year we lost up to 20pc of our technicians because they quit to move abroad but in 2009 it has been much lower, perhaps only 3-4pc.”

He said there were significant advantages for companies that could minimise staff turnover.

“Not only engineers but also labourers are important to maintain quality and get projects completed on time,” he said.

U Ko Ko Htway, the chairman of Taw Win Family Construction said the shortage in 2008 had not affected tradesmen.

“We didn’t see too much of a shortage of workers like carpenters, masons and welders. The loss of engineers was the main issue because it was really difficult to find replacements for them,” he said.