Hudson Contract, which styles itself as UK construction鈥檚 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鈥檚 average pay packet of 拢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 鈥� energy and food bills have particularly escalated 鈥� it is at least better than some other sectors have managed.
Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: 鈥淥ur 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.鈥�
| TRADE | March 2023 | April 2023 | monthly % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRICKLAYING | 拢987 | 拢871 | -11.8% |
| CIVIL ENGINEERING | 拢900 | 拢840 | -6.7% |
| DEMOLITION & WRECKING | 拢978 | 拢922 | -5.7% |
| ELECTRICAL | 拢1,177 | 拢1,096 | -6.8% |
| EQUIPMENT & OPERATOR HIRE | 拢960 | 拢952 | -0.9% |
| GENERAL CONSTRUCTION | 拢1,002 | 拢974 | -2.8% |
| INSULATION | 拢988 | 拢993 | 0.6% |
| JOINERY | 拢1,115 | 拢1,120 | 0.4% |
| MECHANICAL & ENGINEERING | 拢1,116 | 拢1,039 | -6.9% |
| PLASTERING | 拢865 | 拢861 | -0.4% |
| PLUMBING | 拢1,130 | 拢1,084 | -4.0% |
| ROOFING | 拢820 | 拢796 | -3.0% |
| SCAFFOLDING & LIFTING | 拢863 | 拢853 | -1.1% |
| SHOP FITTING | 拢1,113 | 拢990 | -11.1% |
| SPECIALIST TRADES | 拢909 | 拢871 | -4.2% |
| STEEL & TIMBER FRAME ERECTION | 拢955 | 拢945 | -1.1% |
| SURFACING CONTRACTORS | 拢899 | 拢859 | -4.4% |
Regional variations
| Region | April 2023 average | Month on month % change | Year on year % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 拢757 | 0.8% | 12.3% |
| North West | 拢907 | -4.9% | 5.6% |
| Yorkshire & the Humber | 拢919 | -2.6% | 6.4% |
| East Midlands | 拢1,008 | -5.0% | 9.2% |
| West Midlands | 拢913 | -6.3% | 0.4% |
| Wales | 拢974 | 2.7% | 20.0% |
| East of England | 拢1,020 | -4.6% | 7.0% |
| London | 拢974 | -2.6% | 3.9% |
| South East | 拢948 | -7.2% | 1.4% |
| South West | 拢866 | -8.1% | -5.1% |
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