That means the average self-employed person in construction in the east midlands is earning more than 拢50,000 a year, if they take no more than two weeks off.
Overall, average earnings for self-employed construction tradespeople were down 1.7% compared to August to 拢913 but this is 4.7% ahead of September 2020.
London and the northwest both saw their third consecutive monthly increase , according to Hudson Contract鈥檚 latest analysis of pay trends.聽 Average weekly earnings for self-employed tradespeople in London increased by 1.8% to 拢938 during September while in the northwest, earnings increased by 3.3% to 拢887.
Hudson Contract managing director Ian Anfield said: 鈥淲e estimate that through Covid the industry has been short of as many as 140,000 tradespeople, or 10% down on where we could have been, which has helped drive up labour rates in the face of high demand. Our latest pay trends suggest London and the northwest are becoming pinch points for this skills shortage.
鈥淪kills shortages 鈥� once an acute regional problem 鈥� has been exacerbated across the country by the self-employment income support scheme (SEISS).鈥�
Official statistics show construction workers have claimed grants totalling nearly 拢11bn through the scheme, which would amount to hundreds of millions of man hours.
Ian Anfield added: 鈥淭he industry only suffered a two-week lockdown in March 2020 and were it not for labour shortages and material supply blockages it would have fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels fairly soon after. The housing market is still strong at the same time as people are continuing to spend on extensions and improvements rather than going on holiday. As SEISS ends, many will return to work but because huge infrastructure projects such as Hinkley Point and HS2 are in full swing, government departments have accelerated 鈥榮hovel-ready鈥� projects and the ongoing housing and domestic work, demand will continue to outstrip supply.鈥�
| Region | September 2021 average | Month on month % Change | Year on year % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 拢782 | -2.9% | 4.8% |
| Northwest | 拢887 | 3.3% | 1.7% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 拢805 | -4.1% | -1.6% |
| East midlands | 拢1,012 | -1.0% | 18.8% |
| West midlands | 拢917 | -4.9% | 1.2% |
| Wales | 拢932 | 0.3% | 5.5% |
| East of England | 拢983 | -1.0% | 3.6% |
| London | 拢938 | 1.8% | 10.1% |
| Southeast | 拢937 | -3.4% | -0.7% |
| Southwest | 拢849 | -5.4% | 1.6% |
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