It’s Grand to Be A Tradesperson Right Now

Weekly earnings for skilled tradespeople have broken through the £1,000 barrier, according to the biggest payroll firm in the UK construction industry.

During December 2022, Hudson Contract saw a one per cent increase in average pay to £1,002.00.

 

 “These figures illustrate the excellent earning potential for people who are prepared to put in the time and effort to learn one of the skilled trades.”

– Ian Anfield, 

Managing director, Hudson Contract

 

Skills shortage

Subcontractors in equipment and operator hire, general construction, joinery and surfacing all enjoyed all-time high earnings last month. The average pay packet in Hudson Contract’s £2 billion payroll was £945 per week during 2022, an increase of 4.5 per cent against 2021.

Commenting on the reasons for the rise, Hudson Contract’s Anfield says: “During the last calendar year, our clients have been telling us that tender opportunities are slowing down but they have full order books, which they are struggling to fulfil.

“The labour market is still feeling the effects of former chancellor Rishi Sunak’s coronavirus support schemes, which paid people a lot of money to sit at home. At the same time, huge infrastructure schemes like Hinkley Point and HS2 entered new phases and created extra demand for skilled labour.”

 

Home improvement

Anfield continues: “Housebuilders pushed ahead to get homes out of the ground before big changes to building regulations in the summer and consumers have been spending savings built up during lockdowns on home improvement projects.

“With Brexit, we have consistently said the impact would be felt gradually over time and we are seeing the supply of skilled tradespeople from Europe withering on the vine. Europeans would always come here to work and then go home again but now nobody is replacing them. The routes for working visas are not practical for most construction companies and smaller businesses.

“These are the forces driving up labour rates. They are creating plenty of opportunities for the self-employed to earn a handsome living as the most productive and flexible part of the labour market.”

Hudson Contract is the UK’s largest provider of tax status and employment contract services to the construction industry with annual revenues of £2bn and a client base of 2,600 construction SMEs.

 

Picture: To view our Hudson Contract’s interactive pay trends map – Click Here

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
25th February 2023

Share



Related Articles