Construction accounts for 4.5% of jobs in Sussex, meaning more than 20,000 staff are employed in the industry. The sector has struggled in recent years and the return to growth looks set to be slow.
However, there are some positive signs and a CITB report predicted the construction industry in the south-east of England would see average annual growth of 1.1% between 2013 and 2017, with the increase split evenly between new work and maintenance contracts. That will mean a slight rise in demand for some skills, with architects, plant fitters, joiners, glaziers and painters all likely to have more employment opportunities.
A number of the UK's largest construction companies, including Morgan Sindall, Amey and Kier, have offices in Sussex, and many of the highest-value design and build jobs and buildings maintenance contracts in the area go to the major players. As well as permanent employees, these firms often hire temporary staff via construction recruitment agencies for specific phases of projects. There is also a range of local building contractors that need engineers, tradesmen and labourers.
Construction staff can expect to be paid slightly more than the national average for jobs in Sussex, although they can increase their earnings significantly by working on projects in London. Salaries for qualified civil engineers, quantity surveyors and project managers in Sussex are typically in the range of £40,000 to £50,000, while bricklayers usually receive between £12 and £15 an hour.