📜 History of Bricklayer Pay in the UK
The history of bricklayers' wages in the UK reflects not just changes in pay, but also shifts in labor rights, industrial demand, and economic conditions over the centuries.
🏛️ 16th–19th Century: Foundations of Wage Control
1563 Statute of Artificers: One of England’s earliest labor laws, it mandated a seven-year apprenticeship for trades like bricklaying and allowed local authorities to set maximum pay rates.
Bricklaying was considered a skilled trade, generally offering higher earnings than unskilled labor. However, work was often seasonal and pay fluctuated with building demand.
⚙️ Early 20th Century: Institutionalizing Minimum Wages
Industrialisation and urban growth increased demand for housing and skilled trades.
The Trade Boards Act 1909 introduced legally enforceable minimum wages in certain industries — initially for the most exploited workers but it influenced broader labor regulation over time.
Growth in trade unionism strengthened collective bargaining for better pay and conditions for bricklayers and other trades.
📉 Mid-20th Century: Economic Strain and Recovery
Economic depressions and two world wars disrupted the construction industry, leading to job losses and wage stagnation.
Post-1945 reconstruction projects and social housing initiatives created steady work and improved pay for bricklayers, often negotiated through unions.
📈 Late 20th Century: Legal Wage Protection
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 set a wage floor for all workers, formalizing protections against exploitation — though skilled trades like bricklaying typically earned above this.
Economic cycles, including housing booms in the 1980s and late 1990s, saw rising demand for bricklayers and corresponding wage increases.
🧱 21st Century: Skills Shortages and Pay Pressures
Ongoing skills shortages, exacerbated by fewer apprentices and an ageing workforce, have pushed bricklayer pay upward in many areas, especially London and the South East.
Brexit and stricter immigration rules reduced the pool of foreign construction labor, adding further pay pressure.
2025 Projections:
Entry-level: £23,500
Experienced: £39,600
Self-employed: £40,000–£70,000+, depending on region and demand.
Original source https://www.linkedin.com/in/beau-brickwork-2a4b60272/
