Institution of Civil Engineers annual Salary Survey released
A moderate rise in civil engineer’s salaries is further evidence that the UK is slowly recovering from the recession the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) said today.
The annual survey, which measures ICE members’ salaries and job satisfaction across the civil engineering sector, found that the average basic income of civil engineers rose by 2.8 percent to £48,588 in the 2009/10 tax year. Total salary, which includes secondary income and bonuses, also rose, by 4 percent to £53,965.
The professional body welcomed this as positive news, after the 2008/9 report showed a drop in salaries for the first time since the survey’s inception in 2003. This year’s increase puts the trend back on track, with basic salaries showing a 2.5 percent increase on the pre-recession average income in the 2007/8 survey of £47,414. Total income is up 2.26 percent on the 2007/8 average of £52,771.
The survey showed that most ‘recession proof’ were those in the later stages of their careers, particularly the 50-59s and over 65s age bands where the total salary increased more than the average, compared to the under 35s age group for which salaries decreased by approximately 4.5 percent across the board. Recent graduates total salaries decreased for the second consecutive year, dropping 1.7 percent to £27,460.*
ICE President Paul Jowitt said:
“The last two years have been extremely tough on the civil engineering sector and it will be imperative as we move forward that the industry has the confidence to invest in long-term planning, skills development and retention. This requires ongoing Government support and commitment to progressing crucial infrastructure projects that will underpin our economic recovery and the shift to a low carbon economy. We hope that this will be reflected in the upcoming spending review.”
The survey also highlighted the ongoing gender gap, with males earning an average of 42 percent more across the board than females (£50,056 and £35,152 respectively). However the difference is negligible for the younger age groups, only becoming pronounced from 30 upwards. It was greatest for the 60-65s, at 45 percent.
Unsurprisingly female job satisfaction was also lower than their male counter-parts, with only 21 percent of women ‘very satisfied’ with their role compared to 31 percent of men. This represents a larger ‘satisfaction gender gap’ than in 2009, where the figures were 21 and 27 percent respectively.
Also unsurprising was a major drop in job security across the profession, with those who felt ‘very secure’ falling by 40 percent, to just 8 percent, and those who felt ‘insecure and very insecure’ doubling year on year, from 13 to 26 percent.
However despite this, one in five members could see an improvement in the UK economic situation, with 70 percent of this group saying they were observing new projects flowing into companies. One in three said their companies were starting to hire again and one in four respondents either expected to have or had already had a pay rise by the time the survey was conducted.
Jowitt added “Although it has obviously been a really tough time for civil engineers, the salary rises in some areas of the profession is a sign of recovery. However, the continuing disparity between men’s and women’s salaries and the impact of reduced graduate recruitment on starting salaries remains a concern, and something the industry must seek to address.”
Other UK findings included:
- Redundancies, pay freezes and hiring freezes remained the most common methods used by civil engineering employers to mitigate the impact of the recession.
- Job satisfaction overall was unchanged however satisfaction with employers fell by five percentage points.
- London continued to be the highest paid region, with average basic salary £59,637 - £11,049 over the national average.
ICE’s latest Salary Survey polled 6,605 members across the UK, in June 2010.
* Those aged up to 34 and with no more than five years of experience in the profession.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) was founded in 1818 to ensure professionalism in civil engineering. It represents 80,000 qualified and student civil engineers in the UK and across the globe. The ICE has long worked with the government of the day to help it to achieve its objectives, and has worked with industry to ensure that construction and civil engineering remain major contributors to the UK economy and UK exports.