An industry group is warning that a lack of graduates in the construction sector could threaten the housing recovery.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has published a new report that shows 1,100 jobs should be created by even modest economic growth.

However, the society is concerned those jobs may not be filled, restricting the industry's capacity to meet demand for new builds.

A report from the SCSI says the property sector is experiencing a serious shortfall in graduate supply, with very low numbers of CAO applicants over the past four years.

It says that even with modest economic growth of just 2% per year, almost 1,100 new jobs are expected to be created in construction, estate agencies and surveying between now and 2018.

If the economy recovers at a rate of 3% that number will rise to almost 2,500.

The SCSI says current levels of graduates won't meet that level of demand, more than half of those positions couldn't be filled.

The Society is warning that will have a knock-on effect on the recovery of the property market.