Keeping Dundee’s roads in their best condition is on the verge of becoming a dying trade, according to a city maintenance director.
Now Tayside Contracts is looking at ways to make road maintenance jobs more appealing for the young “technology generation”.
Iain Waddell, the managing director of Tayside Contracts, said the number of young people applying for jobs as road workers has been dwindling over the last five years.
The director, who has been with the organisation since 1996, is now in the process of setting up open days and getting in touch with colleges.
He is even approaching those coming to the end of their service in the armed forces in an attempt to bring younger people in to the trade.
The rallying call comes during the Tele’s campaign, Let’s Get Dundee Working.
“At the moment Tayside Contracts employ 300 road workers but the vast majority of them are nearing the end of their careers,” said Mr Waddell.
“We are at the stage where young people don’t seem to see the appeal of working in this line of work.
“As a result there is an issue where there could be a shortage of road workers in the coming years.
“It would be fair to say there is a stigma attached to this type of job.
“There has been a shift in what kind of jobs young people want, or at least think is a proper job, and these tend to be more office-based where they are in front of a computer.
“That seems to be what this technology generation see as a proper job.
“Jobs in road maintenance are perhaps not seen as jobs where technology is needed, but that is certainly not the case.
“There is a lot more of this involved in the job, from the use of GPS mapping and tablets to control tools.”
Just over 71% of workers maintaining roads throughout the city are over 40 years old. Only 5.3% of road workers are between the ages of 16 and 24.
“The jobs are there — we just have to find the people who want to take them,” added Mr Waddell.
“And with the jobs, the opportunities are there to obtain recognised qualifications and move up the ladder.
“We are looking ahead to providing more open days for those looking for jobs to come along to and get to know exactly what opportunities are there for them.
“We are even thinking of approaching those who have completed their time in the armed forces.
“Maintaining roads is a job that requires discipline and a strong mentality as you can be the one up at 4am making sure the roads are safe to use during the winter.
“But the rewards are there and there is always the opportunity to train and progress when you take on a career.”
