Scottish construction salaries ‘up by 10 per cent’

Salaries for some construction professionals in Scotland have risen by between 10 - 20 per cent over the past year, some of the highest salary increases in the UK, according to new analysis.

Recruitment company Hays in Scotland said the highest average salary increases are for contract managers, project managers, quantity surveyors, site managers, engineers and architects who have seen their salaries rise by 14 per cent.

The survey of over 10,000 employers and employees indicates that employers are confident their business activity will increase over the next 12 months and this will result in greater hiring, with 77 per cent of construction employers planning to increase headcount over the next 12 months. However, 84 per cent expect to encounter a shortage of suitable candidates when doing so.

Claire Sheerin, director of Hays Construction & Property in Scotland, said: “We’ve seen a gradual increase in construction salaries in Scotland for some time now, but these pockets of salary rises are becoming more significant. Jobseekers often have the pick of two or three jobs, they get snapped up quickly by employers and they often receive a counter offer from their current employer, which can push their salary up even further.

“Some employees have already spotted they can earn more and decided to make a career move. Others will follow suit over the next 12 months and the situation could soon reach crisis point for employers fighting for the talent they need. With construction employees reporting high levels of dissatisfaction with pay, employers will need to look at what they can offer in order to attract and retain the best employees.”

The survey also showed that construction employers plan to recruit more apprentices, graduates and school and college leavers than the UK average. In the past year 46 per cent recruited apprentices and 31 per cent increased their training budget for current staff.

Hays is also seeing increased confidence amongst jobseekers in construction, with 63 per cent anticipating that they will move jobs in the next year and 42 per cent considering a move within the next six months.

Although salary increases have been greater in construction than other professions, dissatisfaction with pay is higher with 65 per cent of employees unhappy with their pay and 35 per cent planning to move jobs as a result.