CAREERS | HAYS SALARY SURVEY ENGINEERING RESILIENCE While the construction sector faces economic headwinds, building services engineers are forging ahead as demand for skills related to decarbonisation grows. David Blackman reports on findings from the 2024 Hays Salary Survey T he construction sector looks set for a bumpy ride in 2024, as the economy teeters on the brink of a recession. However, continuing skills shortages and the drive for decarbonisation mean buildings services engineers are in high demand. Across the industry, firms are bullish, with 82% of employers intending to take on staff in the next 12 months. One major building services engineer is looking at a 5% increase in headcount. According to the annual industry salary survey carried out by recruitment consultancy Hays for CIBSE Journal, more than half (54%) of construction and property employers cite the economic climate as their main external challenge over the next 12 months. Feedback from contractors is that this year looks a bit tougher, says Toms Neeson, managing partner at Cundall. The downturn in the commercial and residential markets, compounded by uncertainties surrounding implementation of the governments Building Safety Act and the looming general election, mean things are slowing down a bit, says John Lewis, head of building engineering for UK & Ireland at Aecom. However, he is cautiously optimistic about growth. While sensing a tiny bit of nervousness about prospects for later this year, Ben Styles, a senior business director at Hays, says the offices he visits remain really, really busy. Their order books and workflow have not dropped off, he adds. Alex Hill, managing director of Whitecode, says the Kent-based engineer is still receiving strong levels of inquiries and orders. Any nerves about growth are not showing up in firms hiring intentions. That 82% of employers across construction and property intend to take on staff over the coming 12 months shows no change on last years survey results. The same seems to be true in building services, judging by CIBSE Journals straw poll of leading firms in the sector. Lewis, at Aecom, says he is projecting a headcount increase of around 5%, while Cundall has a target to recruit 62 graduates over the next year, without taking into account other avenues, such as apprenticeship schemes. The buoyancy of building services engineering is partly explained by the fact that construction sectors that have been 2.5% average salary increase for building services engineers 16 February 2024 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Feb 24 pp16-19 Salary survey.indd 16 26/01/2024 15:11