Analysis from payroll firm Hudson Contract suggests that large 铿乺ms have cut 30% of subcontractors since the week before lockdown. SMEs, by contrast, are using only 21% fewer subcontractors.
Ian An铿乪ld, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: 鈥淥ur 铿乬ures show how SMEs are leading the recovery in the construction industry. Smaller companies are proving more resilient, agile and adaptive to the new circumstances and are investing in skilled subcontractors to retain productive labour and 铿乶ish jobs.鈥�
He added: 鈥淏y contrast, large construction 铿乺ms tend to work on more complex projects which have been hit harder by the downturn.鈥�
The activity levels of large 铿乺ms have recovered since the depths of lockdown when the average number of subcontractors paid fell by 77%.
Meanwhile, the average number used by smaller 铿乺ms dipped by 66%. Hudson compared the average number of freelance tradespeople paid in the weeks commencing 16th March, 20th April and 20th July. 聽The analysis re铿俥cts the labour demands of micro, small, medium and large companies that continued to operate during the period.
Overall, average weekly earnings for subcontractors recovered by 4.8% to 拢889 during the month of July, the highest number since March.
| Region | July 2020 Average | Month on Month % change | Year on Year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 拢750 | -1.3% | -3.6% |
| Northwest | 拢825 | 2.2% | -5.4% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 拢836 | 9.9% | -3.6% |
| East Midlands | 拢876 | 7.4% | -7.1% |
| West Midlands | 拢922 | 3.9% | -6.2% |
| Wales | 拢915 | 12.0% | 12.0% |
| East of England | 拢966 | 7.8% | 1.9% |
| London | 拢899 | -2.8% | -2.1% |
| Southeast | 拢958 | 7.8% | 3.8% |
| Southwest | 拢880 | 0.2% | 8.8% |
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