A number of construction jobs have been safeguarded after Alistair Darling promised to bring forward £3 billion worth of capital funding in his pre-Budget report.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) had warned that 300,000 jobs in the sector could be lost in the coming years unless the government had decided to bring forward a number of planned construction projects.

Commenting before the chancellor's decision, Rics chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said that the economic downturn was affecting a number of construction professionals.

"Bringing forward capital funding for vital projects will have the advantage of delivering much needed housing and infrastructure but will also go someway to preventing an employment crisis in the industry," he said.

Mr Rubinsohn added that it was vital that construction jobs weren't lost in order to avoid a chronic skills shortage further down the line.

Rics said after the pre-Budget report that upgrading flood defences and modernising school infrastructure should be the first steps in preventing a widespread deskilling in the sector.