Law of averages

Stuart Matthews.

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I’ve been having a look at the interim results of our salary survey. They’re just the answers we’ve had so far – the survey is running until the end of September – but my privileged position allows me an early look at how things are shaping up and sheds light on some niggling issues.

So far 923 people have taken the survey, which means we should easily beat last year’s sample group of 1221. The survey is pitched at construction professionals and the idea is to build a picture of how much you and your peers get paid.

The results may provide ammunition for a pay rise argument with your boss, or tell you to keep your head down and hope they don’t notice you’re being over paid.

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Either way, while money is at the heart of the survey’s purpose, there are a few other interesting questions where trends can already be observed.

Firstly, for the most part, you all work too hard. So far, more than half of you work in excess of 55 hours per week. Anyone working less than 50 hours is in a tiny minority, which is itself dominated by those clearly engaged in part-time work.

The hours worked is probably the one factor that transcends all other influences, whether occupation, seniority, country of origin or age. Everyone in the regional construction industry works a very long week.

Secondly, in a new question for this year’s survey, indications are that around 20% of you have received your pay late at sometime in the last 12 months.

For many, it’s just been an occasional seven day delay, but there are still quite a few that have had to wait in excess of 30 days for their regular salary payment.

Despite these obvious financial difficulties, there is a hard core of optimists among you.

A surprisingly large number, something nearing 40%, believe you will get a pay rise within the next 12 months. While I wish you all the best of luck, the idea that 40% of the construction industry will be getting a pay rise in the next year seems unbelievable.

On the flip side, there was one group with a less rosy view. Architects aren’t the most numerous profession in the survey, but they do feel the most hard done by: 80% of those who have taken part so far think their pay is below average. The law of averages says this can’t be right.

A more balanced outlook is held by engineers, the biggest single group of respondents. While they come in many specialised varieties, collectively they dominate the ranks of career construction professionals.

What engineers get paid and what they think of their current circumstances will have a significant influence on how the final results shape up.

To make sure your voice is heard too, take the survey at constructionweekonline.com. Full results will be published at the end of October, when you’ll see if the law of averages applies to you.