Salaries And Costs
Pay rates in Dundee reflect Tayside demand, labourers tend to sit around £12 to £14 per hour, with skilled trades such as joiners and electricians often at £20 to £28. Site supervisors and managers are commonly £40,000 to £60,000, with project managers and quantity surveyors moving higher as responsibility grows. Temp agencies charge a margin on hourly pay rates, and employment firms quoting for permanent placements usually work on recruitment fees in the £3,000 to £8,000 band for mid level hires, with percentage fees often in the low to mid teens. Agency costs vary by role scarcity, notice period, and compliance checks, so it pays to brief recruiters clearly and ask for a transparent breakdown.
Qualifications
Most sites expect a valid CSCS card, and trades may need CPCS or NPORS for plant work, IPAF or PASMA for access, and UKATA asbestos awareness. Supervisors are normally asked for SSSTS or SMSTS. Electricians will be asked for ECS and up to date testing, and gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe register. Disclosure checks via Disclosure Scotland can apply for public estate works, so candidates should have documents ready, and employers should flag clearance needs at the start.
Regional Or Geographic Variations
Dundee projects cluster around the city centre and Waterfront, the Port of Dundee, Kingsway industrial corridors, and sites serving the universities and NHS estates. Commuter links on the A90 and A92 pull in trades from Angus, Fife, and Perthshire, and Broughty Ferry, the West End, City Quay, and the Technology Park often see steady small works and maintenance. Recruiters build shortlists with travel in mind, so a clear site location and start time helps them line up reliable labour.
Local Hiring Challenges
Contractors report pinch points for steel fixers, scaffolders, shuttering carpenters, and experienced plant operators, with electricians and plumbers tight during refurbishment spikes. Weather can slow groundworks in winter, and university term timetables compress fit out windows, which makes weekend and night shifts more common. Recruitment agencies with deep local books can cover short notice gaps, though businesses that plan ahead will beat the rush for start of week mobilisations.
Common Job Roles Agencies Recruit For
Staffing agencies in Dundee handle labourers, skilled trades, working foremen, slingers and banksmen, telehandler drivers, and site administrators. Recruitment consultants place site managers, engineers, quantity surveyors, estimators, and document controllers for permanent roles. Executive search plays a part for contracts managers and commercial leads when confidentiality matters, with shortlists drawn from regional competitors and returning candidates.
Entry Requirements
For entry level site work, a CSCS Labourer card, PPE, and recent site references can open the door to temporary shifts. A driving licence helps for multi site contracts. Apprentices and improvers who keep logbooks, attend college days, and stay on top of toolbox talks build momentum fast, and agencies will often prioritise candidates who answer the phone, confirm availability, and turn up on time.
Industry Specific Training Or Licences
Plant operator slots call for CPCS or NPORS with the right categories, and lifting ops will want slinger signaller tickets and up to date medicals. Working at height needs IPAF or PASMA, confined spaces may need City and Guilds certification, and roadworks call for NRSWA units. Refurb and maintenance crews can be asked for asbestos awareness and face fit, and public sector sites can require induction modules and site specific permits, so both businesses and jobseekers should keep cards and certificates current.
Key Sectors Or Employers In The Region
The city’s workload spans housing, commercial refurb, civils, marine works at the Port of Dundee, education estates for the universities, and health projects tied to NHS facilities. Local employers and national contractors use recruitment agencies to flex their workforce for shutdowns, cladding schemes, façade repairs, and energy upgrades. Suppliers and fabricators along Kingsway and in nearby business parks feed into projects, which keeps warehousing and logistics roles active too.
Temporary, Permanent, And Contract Work
Dundee recruiters support temporary cover for peaks, permanent hires for continuity, and fixed term contracts for programme led builds. Businesses use temp agencies to stand up squads at short notice, then convert proven workers to permanent jobs when budgets allow. Jobseekers can register with an agency for day shifts and longer blocks, and career minded candidates can ask about contract to perm routes, which help both sides test the fit before committing.
Retention, Workforce, And Pay Practices
Retention improves when pay is prompt and site conditions are clear, so confirm pay cycles, parking, start times, and overtime rates at the outset. Agree mileage or travel if sites sit beyond the local bus and train network. A tidy induction, steady supervision, and predictable rotas keep staff engaged, and the labour market in Tayside rewards firms that communicate changes early and stick to agreed pay rates.
Regional Quick Facts And FAQs
Do construction recruitment agencies in Dundee cover small works and maintenance as well as major projects?
Yes, most recruiters handle everything from day shifts to long running programmes.
What documents should a jobseeker bring when registering with an agency?
Bring a CSCS card, right to work, proof of address, references, and any trade cards or medicals.
How can a business speed up a permanent hire through recruitment consultants?
Share a clear spec, salary band, benefits, interview slots, and decision timelines, so the consultant can manage candidates smoothly.
Can employment firms find employees with clearance for public sector sites?
Yes, tell them early about Disclosure checks, medicals, or training so they can shortlist candidates who match.
How Agencies On This Page Help
Recruitment agencies listed here know Dundee’s sites, pay rates, and commuter patterns, so businesses can hire staff with confidence and jobseekers can find steady work. Local recruiters speak daily with site managers across the city, they balance temporary shifts with permanent placements, and they give clear advice on roles, certificates, and agency costs. If you want to find employees quickly, brief a consultant on start dates, budgets, and must have tickets, then register with an agency to get moving.