Given the repeated dire warnings about what will happen if the UK leaves the EU without a deal – as it still might do – you’d be forgiven for assuming business confidence has crashed through the floor. And, consequently, that construction employers are pretty reticent about taking on new people. But the data from Building’s annual consultants’ salary survey, conducted in partnership with recruitment firm Hays, finds little evidence of imminent catastrophe. 

Richard Gelder, built environment director at Hays, says: “You look at the news and you’d get the impression the world is ending. But actually we’re still pretty much at peak market. For most it feels like business as usual.”

Certainly, the data from the survey suggests things for now are steady as she goes. The average salary rise across all job roles surveyed is 2.6%. Although technically the lowest for five years, this represents a continuation of the modest 2.8% average growth recorded in 2017 and 2018. 

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