Recruitment activity within the construction sector has bounced back, with vacancies and applications for permanent roles increasing at the start of 2024, following a downturn in the market last year as a result of challenging economic conditions.

That’s according to new research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies i.e. APSCo.

The data – provided by Broadbean – revealed that the number of new positions posted by employers rose by 64 per cent and 51 per cent in January and February respectively compared to December 2023. In addition, applications spiked at the beginning of the year, up a staggering 214 per cent in January 2024, reaching the highest point recorded over the last 12 months.

In further positive news for workers, research shows that salaries within the construction sector have also climbed significantly, with a 6.5 per cent year-on-year increase in February 2024 as employers look to boost pay to tackle ongoing skills shortages.

“The construction sector is often seen as a bellwether of the economy and a downturn in this market usually represents a challenging economic climate, which is what we saw over last year. The sector has faced difficulties as a result of global geopolitical issues with supply chain costs rising and an ongoing shortage of talent. However, there are signs of positivity and the growth in both new jobs and applications seen at the start of 2024 as output increases suggests that the market could be turning,” comments Ann Swain, Global CEO of APSCo.