Average weekly earnings increased by 1.8 % to 拢944 during November 2021, the highest聽 November pay levels on record. Year-on-year, earnings were 4.7% higher than in November 2020.
The numbers come from Hudson Contract, a 拢1.6bn-turnover group, is the UK鈥檚 largest provider of tax status and employment contract services to the industry and has a client base of more than 2,500 construction SMEs.
Managing director Ian Anfield said: 鈥淥ur analysis shows we are back in the normal cycle where the industry as a whole works more hours in the run-up to Christmas. Storm Barra may have lost us a few days and contractors are fighting to get the materials they need but we are still within the most productive time of the year. The festive season is coming up and people know January will be slow with bad weather.
| Region | November 2021 average | Month-on-month % change | Year-on-year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 拢757 | -4.4% | -7.3% |
| Northwest | 拢869 | 2.5% | 3.9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 拢899 | 2.2% | 5.5% |
| East Midlands | 拢1,006 | 3.3% | 9.0% |
| West Midlands | 拢979 | 5.2% | 4.9% |
| Wales | 拢968 | 3.1% | 10.3% |
| East of England | 拢989 | -0.8% | 0.5% |
| London | 拢962 | 1.7% | 6.1% |
| Southeast | 拢992 | 1.8% | 6.9% |
| Southwest | 拢922 | 9.1% | 10.8% |
鈥淭he strong performance in the southwest and Wales reflects the increasing investment in housing and infrastructure as part of the government鈥檚 鈥榣evelling up鈥� agenda. In London and the southeast, growing demand for new housing and home improvements is feeding through to labour requirements and rates are catching up.
鈥淟ooking ahead, the removal of the red diesel rebate in April will hit groundworks contractors and quarrying companies the hardest and likely drive up material prices across the construction industry. The smaller and more agile firms on short-term contracts are able to react quickly and put their rates up as are the self-employed.鈥�
November was a particularly good month for surfacing contractors, who enjoyed record earnings at 拢888 per week 鈥� the equivalent of 拢42,600 a year.
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