subject: Hard hat jobs - Is it boom time again ? [print this page] Hard hat jobs - Is it boom time again ? Hard hat jobs - Is it boom time again ?
Back in 2007 new builds were going up everywhere, but now in 2011 there are half finished blocks of flats lying everywhere, still unfinished.
The recession is still ongoing but industry insiders are getting their confidence back. Construction is slowly but surely getting back on it's feet.
Building giants Redrow are planning big projects and taking advantage of the current low cost of raw materials. Redrow Owner Steve Morgan is rebuilding his beloved Molineux (home of Wolverhampton wanderers) on the cheap due to the current cost of materials.
One of the UK's biggest construction companies Carillion recently announced profits of 41.2 for 2010, up 7% on the previous year,exceeding all expectations. This is despite the loss of a lot of public sector contracts, due to government cutbacksThey are expecting even bigger growth this year and substantially more in 2012.
Other building firms are also following their lead.
Another barometer of success is the state of the recruitment market. JasonAndrews of Hard Hat Recruitment in Birmingham is convinced better times are on the way.
" We'veseen a tough few years in construction recruitment, and seen many casualties along the way , many freinds, comptetitors and colleagues have moved into other areas. We've manged to get through it, just by sheer hard work and adapting new strategies. Now however as 2011 begins, things are definitely picking up, and instead of actively looking for work, people are starting to find us, more an more . There's definiteley an upturn, you can almost feel theconfidence in the industry" said Jason.
Other Recruitment firms are reporting similar trends, so it looks like 2011 may finally be the year construction got back on it's feet.
In the past recessions, construction jobshave always been the first to be hit hardest, and consequently, when the recession is ending, construction is usually the first area to see an upturn in jobs and contracts. As this now seems to be happening, it should be safe to assume that we've now seen the worst of the reccession and are coming out the other side.
It's not going to be easy, but slowly things are getting better, and with construction jobs leading the way, things can only improve.
