Salaries and Costs
Recruiters in Oldham work across temporary, permanent, and contract work, so pay rates vary by trade, ticket, and site type. Labourers often earn around £12 to £15 per hour, while skilled trades like joiners and bricklayers can range between £20 and £30 per hour, depending on tickets and travel. Site managers can command £220 to £300 per day on temporary assignments, and quantity surveyors in the region often fall between £40,000 and £60,000 on permanent salaries. Recruitment fees for permanent roles are commonly a percentage of basic salary agreed in advance, and agency costs on temp supply are usually rolled into an hourly or daily charge that covers pay, holiday, and the recruiter’s margin. Speak early about recruitment fees, temp-to-perm terms, and rebate periods so there are no surprises.
Qualifications
Most construction recruitment agencies in Oldham expect CSCS as standard for site access. Supervisory roles often need SSSTS or SMSTS, and plant roles may require CPCS or NPORS, depending on the kit. Fit-out and MEP work may require IPAF for MEWPs, PASMA for towers, and Asbestos Awareness for refurbishment sites. Electrical roles will look for the 18th Edition and ECS, and plumbers often need evidence of NVQ or time-served status. For school or healthcare projects, some employers ask for a recent DBS, so candidates should be ready to share checks through the update service if possible.
Regional or geographic variations
Oldham sits within Greater Manchester’s labour market, with strong commuter links via the A627(M), the M60, and Metrolink into Manchester city centre. This gives staffing agencies a wider pool that covers Chadderton, Hollinwood, Royton, Shaw and Crompton, Failsworth, and the Saddleworth villages. Rates can firm up on schemes with tight access or evening work, and travel allowances may be added for sites beyond the usual bus or tram links.
Local hiring challenges
Local employers often need short-notice labour for reactive maintenance, social housing programmes, and shopfit turnarounds in the town centre. Skill shortages tend to bite on Formwork, Curtain Walling, Setting Out, and Building Services coordination. Winter weather can slow exterior work on the Pennine edge, so resourcing plans should include contingency labour and a route to switch candidates onto internal packages.
Roles and career paths
Agencies cover the full site team, from labourers, banksmen, and telehandler drivers through to joiners, bricklayers, dryliners, and roofers. On the white-collar side, there is steady demand for assistant and project quantity surveyors, site engineers, document controllers, planners, and project managers. Candidates can move from temporary jobs into direct employment once they build references, tickets, and local site experience, and many recruiters help job seekers map a route from improver to fully ticketed status.
Industry-specific training or licences
For civils and highways around the A62 and A663 corridors, Street Works cards can help. Rail-adjacent maintenance may require a PTS, and utility work may require an EUSR. Refurb and live-environment projects often require Fire Marshal and First Aid training, which recruiters can schedule through trusted training partners in Greater Manchester. Keeping tickets current helps agencies place candidates faster and reduces time-to-hire for local businesses.
Key sectors or employers in the region
Construction recruiters support housebuilding across new estates off the A627(M), public-sector refurb led by council frameworks, healthcare projects around the Royal Oldham Hospital estate, and education works on schools across the borough. There is steady shopfit and light industrial activity near Oldham Broadway Business Park and Hollinwood Junction, with night shifts common for retail refresh and distribution fit-out. Recruiters who know these programmes can advise on rota patterns, overtime rates, and certification needs for each sector.
Hiring challenges
Short lead times are common, so recruitment consultants will often pre-clear candidates to start within 24 to 72 hours on temp assignments. Retention improves when employers confirm start times early, set clear task lists, and agree on pay rates in writing before arrival. For permanent hires, a two-stage interview with a site walk-through helps both sides assess fit and reduces fall-through at the offer stage. Local businesses that register with an agency early in a project can book pipelines of labour across groundwork, framing, envelope, and finish, keeping programmes on track.
Regulatory or compliance standards
Recruiters will check Right to Work, references, and certification, and many operate weekly audits on CSCS and machine tickets. RAMS briefings, site inductions, and PPE standards should be confirmed before the start. For PAYE temps, holiday accrual and pension must be handled correctly, and where candidates are paid through CIS, agencies should explain status, deductions, and timesheet cut-offs. Clear onboarding reduces queries and keeps the workforce focused on delivery.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
What types of construction roles do Oldham agencies cover?
Everything from a site labourer and banksman to a site manager, quantity surveyor, and project manager.
Can I hire for temporary, permanent, and contract work?
Yes, agencies supply all three, with temp for short spikes, contract for projects, and permanent for long-term needs.
Do agencies support executive search for senior hires?
Many employment firms run discreet searches for senior site and commercial leaders, including contracts managers and heads of operations.
What will I pay for a temporary worker in Oldham?
Rates vary by trade and ticket, but many labouring roles sit near £12 to £15 per hour, with skilled trades higher depending on scope and travel.
How do recruitment fees work on permanent roles?
Fees are usually a percentage of basic salary, with staged payments or rebates agreed in the terms of business.
Can candidates register with an agency online?
Most recruitment agencies allow job seekers to register online, upload their resumes, and share references, which speeds up placement.
Do local commuter links help widen the talent pool?
Yes, Metrolink, the M60, and the A627(M) mean candidates can reach sites from across the borough and Greater Manchester quickly.
How can employers improve the retention of temp labour?
Confirm shifts in advance, brief tasks clearly, pay on time, and offer continuity of work across phases to keep good people returning.