Construction wages drop with bricklayers hit hardest
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Construction trades suffer 13% drop in pay because of Covid and number of workers available for work drops this is thought to be because easter europeans have returned home during the pandemic although freelance workers numbers are returning to pre-pandemic levels.
According to the construction industry’s biggest payer of subcontractors Hudson Contract, the number of tradespeople on its books stood at 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January which is definitely a shock to the system.
This figure was around 90% before the festive break when most construction sites shut for a fortnight meaning that many still have not returned to work either due to the grants that are available or being stuck over seas.
Ian Anfield, managing director, commented saying: “We were concerned that Covid would prevent eastern Europeans getting back to Britain after Christmas.
“We also heard reports from some clients that some tradespeople were using the self-employment support scheme to take extra paid holiday at the Chancellor’s expense.
“While this is most certainly happening in some cases, on the whole the return to work has been at the same level as in previous years.”
But latest pay trends show earnings are running on average 13% down on January 2020 with bricklayers feeling the biggest drop of 16% at an all-trade average of £838.
Below we can see the breakdown of each particular trade.
| Key trades national average weekly pay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-2020 | Jan-2021 | Change | |
| BRICKLAYING | £ 767 | £ 648 | -16% |
| CIVIL ENGINEERING | £ 872 | £ 817 | -14% |
| DEMOLITION & WRECKING | £ 962 | £ 785 | -12% |
| ELECTRICAL | £ 1,300 | £ 965 | -9% |
| EQUIPMENT & OPERATOR HIRE | £ 959 | £ 938 | -12% |
| GENERAL CONSTRUCTION | £ 977 | £ 807 | -12% |
| INSULATION | £ 933 | £ 884 | -13% |
| JOINERY | £ 1,131 | £ 915 | -11% |
| MECHANICAL & ENGINEERING | £ 1,229 | £ 1,075 | -10% |
| PLASTERING | £ 801 | £ 695 | -15% |
| PLUMBING | £ 1,322 | £ 938 | -9% |
| ROOFING | £ 779 | £ 694 | -15% |
| SCAFFOLDING & LIFTING | £ 878 | £ 705 | -14% |
| SHOP FITTING | £ 1,166 | £ 1,073 | -10% |
| SPECIALIST TRADES | £ 930 | £ 799 | -13% |
| STEEL & TIMBER FRAME ERECTION | £ 731 | £ 797 | -16% |
| SURFACING CONTRACTORS | £ 768 | £ 706 | -16% |
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