Strong demand for labour drives self-employed earnings

Aaron Morby 4 years ago
Share

Demand for skilled labour on building sites rebounded strongly last month after a New Year lull.

According to the industry’s biggest payer of subcontractors, Hudson Contract, average weekly earnings for freelance trades increased by 6.1% last month after the annual fall in January. 

Ian Anfield, managing director, said: “We are seeing growing demand for skilled labour on building sites across England and Wales. 

“Many of our clients are in the house building sector and are reporting full order books.”

Freelances working for steel and timber frame erectors had the best month with weekly earnings growing by 17% to £934 in February, followed by joiners (up 13% to £1,038) and electricians (up 13% to £1,088).

The best-performing regions for earnings growth were the North East (up 11%), the East of England (up 10%) and the South East (up 8%).

He added: “Considering the UK economy shrank by nearly 10% during 2020, this shows the powerful underlying demand for skilled labour.

“The construction industry continues to offer great earning potential for people who want to start or switch careers.

“We are playing our part in promoting the sector through our 10-year-old apprentice sponsorship scheme, which has created meaningful training opportunities for 170 young people in our home county of Yorkshire.”

New-look contracts league and market data pages


The Enquirer has introduced a new construction data page offering easy-to-access market intelligence to help you do better business.

Alongside contracts leagues and daily tender invites, it helps you make informed business decisions with coverage of breaking economic news, latest workload and tender prices forecasts.

There is also a snapshot of current freelance labour rates and a guide to the best and worst payers within the major Tier 1 contractors.

For those looking to navigate the ever-changing world of contract and employment law, lawyers at Fenwick Elliot also give you the benefit of their expert insight.

And, of course, it’s all completely free for readers.

Click here to take a look.

Latest news

Administrators take control at Acheson Construction

40 staff made redundant at South West regional contractor
1 day ago

34 secure spots on £1bn NEPO civils framework

Balfour Beatty, Graham, Taylor Woodrow and Winvic signed up for first time
1 day ago

Bouygues claims net zero construction goal at Welsh project

Llanelli leisure centre and health campus achieves green construction target
1 day ago

Manchester civil service digital campus approved

Two Government office blocks totaling 900,000sq ft to cost £310m to build
1 day ago

New mobile charging vans crack electric plant downtime anxiety

FM Conway trials new service that recharges small plant in one hour
1 day ago

Build to rent deal kick starts 3,500-home Dagenham scheme

Deal secures 935-home first phase of Ford Dagenham plant redevelopment
2 days ago

RSK adds another 110 staff with N-Able Group deal

Consultant and construction services group makes latest acquisition
1 day ago

JRL Malaysian backers plan 580-home Wheat Quarter scheme

Plans in for Welwyn Garden City Shredded Wheat factory redevelopment
2 days ago

Recycled aggregate firms blast new waste crime levy

10% levy on all recycled aggregate producers to fund policing waste crime
2 days ago

£110m Liverpool Metalworks resi scheme gets nod

Legacie Contracts tipped for 16-storey Pumpfields project
2 days ago

Building products firm fined £1m after double accident

Scaffolder hurt in fall and worker caught in machinery at Norbord factory
2 days ago

Graham lands £42m Woking road upgrade

A320 upgrade will unlock new housing schemes along route
2 days ago

Dandara 300 homes High Wycombe project approved

Firm to demolish Chilterns Shopping Centre for build to rent job
3 days ago

Three Keltbray managers took £600,000 in bribes

Site managers convicted for taking kickbacks from labour supply specialist
3 days ago

Bidding starts for £1bn YORcivil major works deal

Eight firms face fight to renew places on big civils framework
3 days ago

ECF clinches deal for Hull 850-home urban village

East Bank waterside village plan advances
4 days ago

Maintenance firm Cardo in second Scottish acquisition

North Lanarkshire property maintenance firm Rodgers & Johnston bought
3 days ago

Kier confirms £41m Salford Uni health building job

Work starts on specialist three storey teaching building
3 days ago

Passenger train derailed after hitting track left by Colas workers

Contractor and Network Rail asked to make improvements after accident
4 days ago

Bryson signs £6m safety products deal with Skanska

Safety specialist becomes sole supplier to contracting giant
4 days ago

Murphy wins St Fergus gas compressor project

Three low emission compressor units to be installed for National Gas
4 days ago

Blenheim House payout hopes fade as claims hit £33m

Suggested 10p in the £1 payout for subcontractors now unlikely
4 days ago

£1.3bn decarbonising and fire safety deals out for bid

South East Consortium starts hunt for firms for housing upgrade work prize
4 days ago

£30m turnover M&E contractor files administration notice

TNA Electrical makes administration application
4 days ago

Plan for first big offices at £1.7bn Manchester innovation hub

500,000 sq ft of offices planned at renamed Sister development
4 days ago

Murphy starts work on £2.5bn Eastern Green Link 1

Giant subsea electricity cable project will take three years to build
4 days ago

Subcontractors wanted for work across Birmingham

Latest Constructionline event: Register now
4 days ago

Acheson Construction files administration notice

£53m turnover South West contractor lodges court notice
5 days ago

Hunt for 10 firms to deliver £37bn new hospital plan

Race starts for mega-framework with pledge to spread work among all firms
5 days ago

Springfield to build homes for army of green energy workers

Scottish house builder sells 2,480 plots to Barratt Redrow in strategy switch
5 days ago

Contractor services