Hudson Contract Managing Director Ian Anfield said: \u201cConstruction companies need to be flexible in order to remain competitive.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the fact that skilled trades people such as plasters, joiners, scaffolders and bricklayers are commanding significantly more than this time last year is an excellent indicator of economic growth.<\/p>\n
“The West Midlands has been buoyant for some time, and it now looks like the North East has started to play catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nAnfield said freelance workers with similar skills earned 20% more than those on PAYE.<\/p>\n
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Looking at the year ahead he said: \u201cAs always, there is plenty of chatter about skills shortages and Brexit.<\/p>\n
“But ultimately, highly skilled freelancers will continue to demand \u2013 and achieve \u2013 increasing rates of pay.<\/p>\n
“In contrast employees are held back by uncertainty of employers and poor increases negotiated by unions under collective agreements.<\/p>\n
\u201cRather than seeing \u00a31,000-a-week tradesmen as a problem, if the CEO of a housebuilder is worth \u00a375m pounds a year, surely freelancers who actually deliver the product are worth at least \u00a350,000 each.<\/p>\n
“We look forward to the day when the average weekly rate for freelance brickies, joiners, and plasterers hits \u00a31,000 – they are more than worth it for the benefits they bring.\u201d<\/p>\n
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