Top 7 Construction Jobs in the UK: Essential Skills

There is an array of construction jobs out there, and the construction industry is ready to hire people at the most competitive rates and perks. Project owners, contractors, and managers are looking for the most efficient ways to advertise their needs of the workforce and see a good return on each penny spent. However, construction workers in Northern Ireland are doing the best in terms of wages in the United Kingdom, according to Federation of Master Builders. Relevant courses required for a CSCS Card (essential to work on a construction site)

7 construction jobs (and their salaries if you worked in the top-earning areas):

  1. Supervisors earn £48,456
  2. Site managers earn £47,856
  3. Steel fixers earn £43,056
  4. Electricians earn £42,499
  5. Plumbers earn £41,942
  6. Roofers earn £40,270
  7. Civil engineering operatives earn £39,806
Now, let's check the required skill sets for each type of construction job profile. Scroll on to read about the salaries, work expectations, required qualifications and skills needed for each of those 7 construction jobs. 

#1 - Site Managers/Supervisors in the UK Construction Industry

It is the most demanding job in the construction industry because responsibilities and roles are great and greater success is depending on the site manager. If you are a site manager and looking for an opportunity in any region of the UK, you must be familiar with all types of construction management right from residential to commercial and infrastructural. Experiences in Different Types of Construction Management Halls, bridges, stadiums. Malls and commercial complexes are trendy types, and you must know inside out of the management. Salaries of Construction Supervisor It is typically starting from £26,000 to £33,000 for fresher and reaches up to £50,000 for mid-level managers and highly experienced site supervisors/managers; it is £70,000 or more. Work Expectations from Construction Supervisors It is a typical job of 40 hours in a week but often requires overtime work in odd days and hours to meet deadlines and various constraints related to site and work. The job demands to work in all weather conditions and remote as well as in adverse geographical areas.

"Construction workers in Northern Ireland are doing the best in terms of wages"

Expected Qualification of Construction Supervisor
  • In the UK, HNC or degree in construction relevant subject is enough.
  • You can enter in the field with HND, foundation degree, or B.Tech. is possible
  • Various courses by CIOB are also preferred
  • You can obtain a diploma or graduate diploma program by CIOB to establish relevancy
  • Various engineering degrees with subjects like construction management, building management, construction project management, and surveying & building studies are enough to give you good package in construction manager posts
Skills You Have to Display for Post of Construction Manager
  • Strong communication and leadership skills are essential to have.
  • Problem-solving and challenge taking abilities are must to have.
  • Complete knowledge of engineering drawings and interpretations are basic requirements.
  • Stress bearing abilities and interpersonal relationship management skills are good to have.
  • Awareness of health, safety, and security aspects on the site are a common expectation from any employer from a construction supervisor.
  • Computing or IT skills are providing additional advantages to speed up and automated many construction processes in this digital era.
Relevant courses for managers and supervisors

#2 - Steel Fixers in the UK Construction Industry

Job prospects for steel fixers are bright in the UK because demands are high and increasing day-by-day for experienced workers. Salaries of Construction Steel Fixture For starter, it is £14,000 to £18,000, and experienced steel fixers it is £20,000 to £30,000. Once you got enough experiences and expertise, you can earn £35,000 and more easily in regions of UK. Work Expectations from Construction Steel Fixture They have to work 40 hours per week usually, but have to go beyond it when they have to meet deadlines. Some employers offer overtime compensation for extra and odd hours of work.

"Physical stamina is important."

A steel fixer should have tendencies to enjoy the practical/blue collar work. It has to be physically fit, capable of work at heights and within a team. Physical stamina is important as construction workers must stand for long hours, requires frequent bending, stooping, and work in cramped quarters. One might have to face adverse climatic conditions too while working in an open site in odd weathers. Expected Qualification of Construction Steel Fixers There are no set educational qualification requirements for steel fixers in the industry, but one has to pass GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A to C) or equivalent in English, Mathematics, Science, and technology subjects. The main thing is reading the drawing and engineering instructions while rests of our practical work and knowledge. With the introduction of automation software, workers must have familiarity with technologies and to be tech-savvy to adopt the changes. Relevant courses if you don't have the required GCSEs

#3 - Electricians in the UK Construction Industry

Electricity is the basic need. So, each and every construction site has the demand of an electrician right from the commencement of the project to the end, be it residential or commercial. Salaries of Construction Electricians If you are an apprentice electrician, you can expect £8,000+ per annum. For the newly trained, it is about £14,000 to £19,000. When you get enough experiences over the years, you can earn £19,000 to £30,000 in the UK. For master electricians, the salary range is £30,000 - £36,000 per annum. Work Expectations from Construction Electricians
  • You have to work 40 hours per week, and overtime is paid for extra hours.
  • Meeting deadlines is essential.
  • You should be able to work in odd weather and conditions on the site.
  • Follow the safety rules in your work.
  • Knowledge of all kinds of electrical work, reading and following drawings, and deal with various instruments used in the installation as well as inspection.
  • Knowledge of First Aid and valid certificate.
  • Understanding of permit system and Work Regulations 1989
Expected Qualification of Construction Electricians An NVQ Diploma or Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) at Level 3 in Electrical Installation expected for a good post in a reputed company belong to the construction industry. Good literacy skills, Apprenticeship qualification, CSCS ECS card, and SSSTS or SMSTS are desirable qualifications in the UK. Functional Skills Level 2 (English, mathematics & ICT) - or Essential Skills in Wales are expectations for apprentice electricians.

#4 - Plumbers in the UK Construction Industry

Plumbers look after anything that involves water pipework on the construction site. Salaries of Construction Plumbers Fresher but trained plumbers can earn in a range of £11,000 to £15,000 while mid-level experienced ones can draw £16,000 to £28,000. For seniors, the range of salary is £27,000 - £31,000. Work Expectations from Construction Plumbers On average, plumbers must work 40 hours per week. They have to look after the work consisting a variety of tasks like installation of a piping system for supply and drainage, fixing leakage, installation of attached fixtures and equipment, understanding and working knowledge of HAVC systems, hydraulic systems, and latest trends. Expected Qualification of Construction Plumbers
  • You must have Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a site.
  • You should pass a health and safety test to qualify.
  • You must hold a gas ID card to start work.
  • Apprentice must have an NVQ Diploma/SVQ Level 2 or 3.

#5 - Roofers in the UK Construction Industry

Roofers are working on the protective layers of a building to separate inside from the harsh environment of outside. Role & Responsibilities of Construction Roofers There are three major types of roofing work roles found in the UK. Roof Slater and Tiller, Waterproof Membrane Installer and Roof Sheet Installer and Cladding Worker: Salaries of Construction Roofers
  • For fresher roofers – £12,000+
  • For mid-level experienced roofers – £15,000 - £25,000
  • For master level roofers - £25,000 - £32,000
Work Expectations from Construction Roofers Work for 40 hours per week or longer on paid extra hours. Out of all construction jobs, being a roofer is especially challenging due to working on heights and adverse climates. Some essential characteristics of a roofer should be effective communication ability, teamwork, logical thinking, time management, and adaptability to changing work instructions. Expected Qualification of Construction Roofers No fix formal education requirements, but SVQ or NVQ in Cladding, Roof, and Sheeting or Cladding at Levels 2 and 3 (SCQF levels 4 and 5) are helpful qualifications to go up fast on the career ladder. Relevant courses required for a CSCS Card (essential to work on a construction site)

#6 - Bricklayers in the UK Construction Industry

Bricklayer used to lays bricks, concrete blocks, and pre-cut stones to create walls, foundations, arches, and many structural elements. Salaries of Construction Bricklayers
  • A newly trained bricklayer expects a range of £12,300 - £17,000
  • Trained bricklayer earns in between £17,000 - £30,000
  • Senior or master bricklayer get a range of £30,000 - £40,000
Work Expectations from Construction Bricklayers Almost 40 hours per week is the norm in the UK and overtime work used to pay on an hourly basis. Working in adverse weather and odd situations is a prime expectation from bricklayers. Expected Qualification of Construction Bricklayers A Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is a normal expectation of many employers. A Trowel Occupations NVQ as well as passing a health and safety test are extra requirements.

#7 - Plasterers in the UK Construction Industry

Plasterers smoothen walls, ceilings, and floors as well as decorate as per design to make it attractive. Salaries of Construction Plasterers
  1. Fresher – £12,000 - £16,000
  2. Trained – £16,000 - £28,000
  3. Senior – £29,000 - £32,000
Work Expectations from Construction Plasterers 40 hours per week working capacity and capable of facing odd working conditions as well as weather changes. Expected Qualification of Construction Plasterers Should have Level 1, 2, & 3 Diploma in Plastering. For all posts, women candidates can get help from the NAWIC, WiP, and CIOB organisations in the UK. The United Kingdom is an advanced region where growth rate is stable, and people are of progressive mentality. Therefore, various types of construction are going on with a rapid pace and cover a range of construction works such as residential, commercial, industrial, infrastructural, and environmental. The construction industry is growing rapidly in the UK and has a tremendous demand of skilled workforce for different roles and tasks.

Why Do People See Prospects In Construction Jobs?

Once upon a time, construction jobs were considered as labour intensive and almost blue-collar workforce industry. Therefore, university graduates and engineers also were avoiding to have a career in construction jobs. It was reserved for no to less educated people. NowadayS, these are titles of engineers participate in the construction industry. Engineering software operators, 3D modellers, office and site supervisors with computing skills, and other roles with digitalisation abilities are newly created roles in the industry, doing any kind of construction.

There are many construction jobs available as the industry is in extremely high demand

  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Carpenters
  • Decorators
  • Civil Engineering Operators
The similar workforce is an allied group attached to the construction industry. These all in sum looking for construction jobs business through various media.

“People in Construction Earn GrEater than Rests of White Collar and Blue Collar Workforce”

Conclusion

Britex has posed new challenges to the construction industry in the England, Britain and overall UK areas to replace the vacancies created by the elimination of migrant labour force, which were used to coming from the adjoining areas mostly and some Asian countries. It also has opened the doors of opportunities and earning higher wages in the construction job industry for the native people. Therefore, modern online job boards have hundreds of vacancies advertised for construction jobs. For example, our Just Norfolk Jobs job portal has several hundred of various types of construction job openings in the UK. Guest Post written by Manya Ray, Marketing & PR Executive for Just Norfolk Jobs.
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