2024 has brought with it plenty of reasons to be positive about the outlook of the construction industry. Earlier this year, construction activity grew at its fastest rate in two years, encouraging firms to step up employment for the first time in five months, the fastest rise since September 2023.  

Amongst the specialist trades that now find their skills in high demand, qualified bricklayers are particularly sought-after, with predictions suggesting that the sector doesn’t currently have enough talent to meet construction targets. 

A combination of factors is causing skills shortages within bricklaying and across the wider construction industry. An already ageing workforce was left with even bigger gaps when large numbers of foreign talent were lost after Brexit. Now, with construction output on the up, the impact is being felt even harder by construction bosses. 

High demand for bricklayers

The National House Building Council estimates that an additional 33,000 bricklayers are needed to hit the UK’s target of building 300,000 new homes annually by 2025. This prediction is based on data from the Home Builders Federation that suggests 2,500 bricklayers are needed for every 10,000 homes built. 

Earlier this year, when the Federation of Master Builders published its Q1 2024 State of Trade Survey, the organisation found that 28% of business leaders were struggling to hire qualified bricklayers. 

What is the average salary of a bricklayer?

Location, experience and the kind of work they choose to take on, all impact potential earnings. According to Checkatrade’s latest data, newly qualified bricklayers can expect to earn around £31,941. That could increase to £40,102.40 with experience. At the higher end of the scale, bricklayers who own their own limited company can earn around £56,833.

This continued high demand is great news if you’re already qualified in the industry, and should serve as an encouraging sign if you’re considering it as a new career.