Jim Summers bristles with pride as he lists the sites where his bricklaying skills have been employed. “From the Houses of Parliament to the Old Bailey, from St Martin in the Fields to Brixton Prison — for 45 years I have made a good living in this city as a brickie.”

But like many of his colleagues working on Laing O'Rourke's huge housing development in Clapham, southwest London, he is worried by the country's eocnomic woes. “I have just turned 60 and am at the end of my tenure in this industry. I retire in five years ... It's the youngsters I feel sorry for.”

Mr Summers, from Orpington, Kent, knows better than most how a recession and downturn in the housing market can hit the building industry. “I was out of work for about 18 months in the 1980s and that was very tough. I wouldn't wish it on anybody.”

He says that the industry is reeling from the credit crunch. “I know four people who have been laid off in the building industry due to a lack of work. They've been ringing around to try to find work, but there's nothing out there. I am lucky, Laing O'Rourke is a good firm to work for and there are other contracts in the pipeline. The bricklaying trade has done me well, but times are now looking gloomy.”

Suresh Hirani, 34, a carpenter, says that work is dropping off. “It's very scary. I was sitting at home for three weeks with nothing to do before this job came along. I was really relieved when I got it. I haven't signed on since I left school and started in this industry. I've seen the boom and am now I'm seeing the decline.”

Robert Gamgee, 25, from Epsom, Surrey, says that some of his friends have lost their jobs. “It's simple: people aren't buying houses so companies are not going to be building houses.”

Mr Summers says that the Government could help by providing more apprenticeships and social housing. “It's good for the economy, helps those who can't afford homes and will sort out some of the problems this country faces.”

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