Weekly earnings for freelance tradespeople in the construction sector continued to build last month, according to latest figures released by Hudson Contract
Analysis of July payroll data for more than 2,200 construction companies in England and Wales reveals a 3% month-on-month increase to an average of £920.
The solid performance for the month comes on top of the 6.8% growth seen in June.
The East Midlands region was the biggest winner with weekly earnings rising by 6.8% to £943, followed by the West Midlands, up 5.6% to £983, and Yorkshire and the Humber, up 3% to £867.
Weekly earnings for July showed a 4.3% increase compared to the same month in 2018.
Hudson Contract delivers the most accurate indication of sub-contractor 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.
Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “While the Federation of Master Builder’s Q2 trade survey found higher levels of sub-contracting, the latest IHS Markit / CIPS purchasing managers index for the construction industry reported a decrease in sub-contractor usage for the sixth consecutive month.
“Generally, demand for housing remains high as does the demand for highly-skilled self-employed tradespeople. However, we have seen a levelling off of sub-contractor usage in some areas, and there is no doubt businesses want Brexit settled once and for all – one way or another.
“Our analysis shows that skilled freelancers are earning a premium for their valuable services and are a world away from ‘gig economy’ workers. Construction freelancers are busy building the housing and infrastructure the country needs.”
