The sector accounts for 7 per cent of total employment in the UK - that's over two million people.
House building has recently slowed a lot. Infrastructure and public works (road widening, rail network projects, flood defences, Olympics 2012) might help support the construction industry for the next 5-10 years. Government funding for some projects has recently been cut.
Total employment in construction is expected to grow modestly by 175 thousand workers by 2017.
Skilled trades are expected to see a slow decline in their share of total jobs by 2017. Increases are expected in managerial, professional and technical jobs.
34 per cent of the UK workforce is qualified to level 3* or above. (*A level, Advanced Diploma, Advanced Apprenticeship, International Baccalaureate, BTEC National Diploma.)
In the future there will be a demand for project, communications, people and financial management skills.
Self-employment accounts for about 40 per cent of total employment in construction.
Over 90 per cent of construction companies employ fewer than 10 people.
The construction industry is very male dominated. Females account for barely 1 in 10 of all jobs.
There are approximately 45,500 architects in the UK. The public sector employs less than 10 per cent of architects. Freelance and contract work is increasing. There are increasing employment opportunities with housing associations, house builders and private developers.
There are about 15,700 town planners and 15,500 architectural and town planning technical occupations in the UK. Most are employed in local government.
There are about 103,000 quantity and chartered surveyors employed in the UK. There are opportunities in local government, with construction and civil engineering contractors and housing associations.
There are several construction projects in the West of England that are proposed or underway. Recent cuts in government funding might affect some of them.
Bath and North East Somerset
Bristol
North Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Figures are for those, 18 and over, working full-time in the UK. With training and career development, higher salaries can be achieved.
| Position | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Construction managers | £37,437 |
| Architects Town planners Quantity surveyors Chartered surveyors |
£32,835 |
| Building and civil engineering technicians Architectural technologists and town planning technicians Draughtspersons Building inspector |
£26,547 |
| Skilled constructions trades: Steel erectors Bricklayers Roofers, roof tilers and slaters Plumbers, heating and ventilating engineers Carpenters and joiners Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters Plasterers Floorers and wall tillers Painters and decorators |
£23,201 |
| Scaffolders Road construction operatives Rail construction and maintenance operatives |
£20,836 |
| Labourers in building and woodworking trades | £17,070 |
The salaries shown are annual, median, gross pay rates. Gross means before tax and other deductions. The median figure is the middle salary in the range of what all people in that category of job earn.
Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2009, O.N.S., © Crown Copyright.
Many people choose to commute (regularly travelling between home and work) to get the job they want. This will show you where most of the jobs in this sector are in the region.
| Bath and North East Somerset | 4,525 |
| Bristol | 11,191 |
| North Somerset | 14,295 |
| South Gloucestershire | 11,412 |
Annual Business Inquiry Employee Analysis 2009, O.N.S., © Crown Copyright.
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