Hudson Contract, which styles itself as UK construction’s biggest payroll, says that while pay packets dipped 4.4% in April compared to March because of the Easter holidays, they were still higher than last year.
April’s average pay packet of £941 per week was 5.4% higher than a year before.
While this increase is below the increase seen in living costs over the same period – energy and food bills have particularly escalated – it is at least better than some other sectors have managed.
Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “Our figures show rates for the self-employed are holding ground. In public sector and unionised employment, employees are fighting and striking for pay rises and eventually being offered 5% settlements. Freelancers in construction have already had the benefit of year on year increases and 5.4% in the last year alone. If further evidence was needed, this is why self-employment suits the workforce and is chosen by so many. They follow the work and use their individual bargaining power to attract higher earnings.”
| TRADE | March 2023 | April 2023 | monthly % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRICKLAYING | £987 | £871 | -11.8% |
| CIVIL ENGINEERING | £900 | £840 | -6.7% |
| DEMOLITION & WRECKING | £978 | £922 | -5.7% |
| ELECTRICAL | £1,177 | £1,096 | -6.8% |
| EQUIPMENT & OPERATOR HIRE | £960 | £952 | -0.9% |
| GENERAL CONSTRUCTION | £1,002 | £974 | -2.8% |
| INSULATION | £988 | £993 | 0.6% |
| JOINERY | £1,115 | £1,120 | 0.4% |
| MECHANICAL & ENGINEERING | £1,116 | £1,039 | -6.9% |
| PLASTERING | £865 | £861 | -0.4% |
| PLUMBING | £1,130 | £1,084 | -4.0% |
| ROOFING | £820 | £796 | -3.0% |
| SCAFFOLDING & LIFTING | £863 | £853 | -1.1% |
| SHOP FITTING | £1,113 | £990 | -11.1% |
| SPECIALIST TRADES | £909 | £871 | -4.2% |
| STEEL & TIMBER FRAME ERECTION | £955 | £945 | -1.1% |
| SURFACING CONTRACTORS | £899 | £859 | -4.4% |
Regional variations
| Region | April 2023 average | Month on month % change | Year on year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East | £757 | 0.8% | 12.3% |
| North West | £907 | -4.9% | 5.6% |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | £919 | -2.6% | 6.4% |
| East Midlands | £1,008 | -5.0% | 9.2% |
| West Midlands | £913 | -6.3% | 0.4% |
| Wales | £974 | 2.7% | 20.0% |
| East of England | £1,020 | -4.6% | 7.0% |
| London | £974 | -2.6% | 3.9% |
| South East | £948 | -7.2% | 1.4% |
| South West | £866 | -8.1% | -5.1% |
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