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Q3 REVIEW:
Thank you again to JOHNSONBIM for their data and insights.
MARKET UPDATE
At the end of Q3 2020, market data indicated a sharp increase in UK construction activity. New orders continued to rise, with the release of pent up demand.
However, we’re walking on eggshells. Recovery is patchy as Rebecca Larkin reports in Building. The infrastructure projects are propping us up but is the commercial sector about to fall off a cliff?
The pragmatists are still cautious. A few are able to grasp the nettle and look to the future, most are keeping the hatches battened down.
So, although market data was promising, the demand for BIM staff in August, September and October was lower than expected. The combination of uncertain workload, Covid 2 and Brexit has had more of an impact on recruitment (and therefore salaries) than any positive market data.
THE COVID EFFECT on SALARIES
Click here for the latest BIM Salary Guide
Pre-Covid, salaries were dictated by the balance between supply and demand. It was a simple correlation; when demand outstrips supply, salaries rise. When it reverses, salaries plateau.
On the surface, inter-Covid, where supply outstrips demand, as usual, we are seeing salaries plateau.
However, where demand is outstripping supply, salaries have also plateaued. This is due to the pressure to reduce costs – even when recruiting new talent.
Logically, those recruiting have been told to freeze salaries offered at pre-Covid levels and, if possible, reduce them.
Equally logically, unless made redundant (and that talent pool dried up very quickly), good candidates are unlikely to change jobs unless there is an increase in salary (see our what candidates want most article).
To break the deadlock, recruiters are being more flexible in their expectations. By recruiting candidates with less experience than originally required, they are able to keep salaries within target.
There is a risk to this strategy – if salaries for candidates with not a lot of experience increase, they will get close to the plateaued salaries for the more experienced. So far, we are not seeing this happen, but it is a concern worth noting.
SUPPLY and DEMAND
For more detailed trend data, click here.
With cost control paramount, the trend to reduce central overhead continues. Where new projects have the budget for BIM expertise and employers lack the capacity, there has been some demand.
Hence strategic roles have been very rare but, thankfully, the number of redundancies has reduced. There are still too many excellent BIM leaders available.
Where there is appetite, with project funded roles, the more affordable, less experienced BIM Coordinators are in demand. Why BIM Coordinators are in the highest demand
See the latest BIM jobs on THE BIM JOBS BOARD including opportunities with some of the best digital construction companies in the world like Willow, Vinci, Sisk, Kier, Cracknell and Bentley.
SALARIES
Click here for the latest BIM Salary Guide
As reported above, the pressure to manage costs with the slowdown in demand means salaries have plateaued and remain at pre-Covid levels. Many have been temporarily reduced to match furlough levels although we are seeing most return to 100%.
However, with supply of some skills short, if demand increases, we are likely to see some salaries follow suit. See our predictions for Q4 to make sure you are ahead of the curve.
I DISAGREE!
Does this align with what you’re experiencing in the marketplace. Do you agree/disagree with the predictions?
We welcome your comments in the LEAVE A REPLY box below…
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