Freelance Builder Pay Trends: February 2022

Labour rates on building sites increased by 10.1 per cent last month. That’s according to our payroll – the biggest in the construction industry.

Latest figures show average earnings for self-employed tradespeople rose to £950 per week during February. While the monthly rise is in keeping with annual trends, labour rates are 7.1 per cent higher than the same time last year.

Earnings increased across all regions in England and Wales and reached an all-time high in the South West of £931. Earnings increased across all trades, led by plumbers (up 16.6 per cent at £1,115), electricians (up 16.3 per cent at £1,145) and surfacing contractors (up 15.6 per cent at £859).

Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “It has been a mild start to the year and demand on sites remains high for skilled tradespeople. We have had a busy month for entering new contracts and we are seeing anecdotal evidence of more Europeans returning to the UK labour market. Similar to last month, our clients are telling us they have full order books well into 2022, but they are not seeing as many enquiries coming through the door as this time last year.’’

To view our interactive pay trends map click here

Hudson Contract is the UK’s largest provider of tax status and employment contract services to the construction industry with group annual revenues approaching £1.8 billion and a client base of more than 2,500 construction SMEs.

We deliver the most accurate indication of subcontractor pay trends across the construction industry, publishing the average pay for a spectrum of 17 different trades split across 10 regions in England and Wales. We supply statistics to the Bank of England to keep policymakers updated with real-time insights on demand for skilled labour.