Employment Survey 2002

The Contract Journal Employment Survey 2002 gives us a clear picture of the average construction industry manager. He (yes he's a man) is 41 years old. He has spent 20 years in the construction industry and has been with his employer for nine years. He earns £37,000 a year basic salary and gets 25 days annual leave.

And yet he harbours a major regret about his choice of career.

How do you compare to Mr Average? Do you have a company car or allowance (89% of your peers do)? Do you have private medical insurance (70% of construction managers do)? How about an occupational pension provision (58% enjoy a final salary scheme and 23% a money purchase option)? Or a share option scheme (50% do).

The average manager has changed somewhat over the years (see tables a to g, below). Other recent Contract Journal employment surveys reveal that managers' pay has increased by 34% since 1995 and by 26% since 1997.

He has been in the industry for fewer years than his predecessors, and he has worked for his current employer for less time (reflecting either lower levels of job security, or a greater willingness to switch jobs).

Today, the average manager is a little more likely to have a company car, and much more likely to have a pension and private health insurance.



Employee satisfaction

These advances in the terms and conditions of employment have seemingly impacted on employee satisfaction. Four out of five survey respondents said they are happy with their pay and perks. And 89% would go so far as to recommend their employer to others.

But despite this apparent contentment, a shocking statistic emerges. More than half (51%) of the 891 survey respondents said that, if they could turn back the clock they would choose a different career.

The levels of regret differ with age (see table, bottom left). Managers aged 51 to 60 are the most wistful - 60% would rather have done something else with their working lives. The 26 to 30 and 31 to 40 age groups are bang on the average 51% regret figure, while 41- to 50-year-olds are generally happier (only 48% would change).

Industry newcomers seem happy with their choice of career to date - 61% of 21- to 25-year-olds are fulfilled. But the most satisfied construction managers are the old-timers. Three-quarters of managers over 61 are happy with their choice of career.

Draw your own conclusions, but here are two suggestions. Either construction grows on you again after a difficult period in your 50s. Or all the dissatisfied workers have retired by 60, leaving only the most enthusiastic to work to full retirement age.

Very few construction managers are actually seeking to act on their feelings. Just 3% are seeking employment outside the construction industry. But 18% are looking for a new job with a different construction company. And as revealed in Contract Journal (2 October), Bovis Lend Lease and Kier Group are the preferred employers.

Trade papers are the most popular source of employment opportunities, ahead of recruitment agencies and the internet (see table 6 opposite). And Contract Journal is the publication of choice, with CJ's two internet sites www.contractjournal.com and www.constructionjobsuk.com being the most frequently visited websites for construction industry jobs, according to the survey respondents (see table 7). n