Many construction workers are finding it difficult to gain employment during the economic downturn, figures show.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) finds that all sectors have experienced a decline in their workloads, which has led to a slight drop in employment expectations.

"Public sector projects will play a key role in any recovery as long as the finance is made available to prevent them from stalling," commented Rics chief economist Simon Rubinsohn.

Workers in the south-west are experiencing the slowest decline, while the north, the Midlands, East Anglia and Wales are also faring better than other areas of the UK.

In Scotland however, workloads are said to be declining at a faster rate across all construction industries except for the public housing and private industrial sectors.

Greg Pitcher, deputy news editor at Construction News, recently called upon workers in the field to look for public sector work in future, as more is likely to become available as the London Olympics approaches.

He also said the widening of the M25 and Crossrail links may provide further opportunities for workers in the public sector.