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The NFRC and Glenigan State of the Roofing Industry survey for the first quarter of 2023 shows that roofer workloads increased again during the period, with 16% of companies reporting an increase in inquiries compared to the previous quarter.
Repair, maintenance and improvement work in the private and commercial sectors led to an increase in workload and led to an improvement in inquiry rates. The survey found that new construction — both residential and commercial — “cooled off” slightly during the quarter. Nonetheless, all sectors remain confident that workloads will increase in the coming months.
regional trends
Roofers who operate nationwide had more positive experiences with workload in the first quarter than those who operate in a specific region. Around 60% of businesses nationwide reported an increase in workload, while businesses in Yorkshire and the North East, Wales and Scotland in particular saw a decrease.
work challenges
The difficulty of finding workers with the right skills has become entrenched. 49% of companies said they had difficulties recruiting during this period, while only 9% felt the situation had improved. The data suggests that employment levels have risen “gently” despite a difficult job market.
Notably, however, this tended to use subcontractors: a remainder 4% of companies increased the number of their direct employees, while a remainder 11% increased the use of subcontractors.
Slate and tilers were again the most in demand, with 45% of companies having difficulties finding labour.
Material availability and prices
Contractors reported continued improvement in material availability, with 7% of firms reporting easier material sourcing. However, material prices have continued to rise. A remainder of 70% reported increased material costs.
Business transaction costs
51% of companies increased prices this quarter, with cash flow described as having been more difficult due to ongoing payment delays.
looking ahead
Overall, contractors have positive expectations for the next quarter and year ahead. Roofers in all six sectors surveyed expected their workloads to improve over the next 12 months. At regional level, too, the majority had this expectation, with the exception of companies in Scotland, the North West and Yorkshire and the North East.
Ruth Scarrott, Career Director at NFRC, said: “I am pleased to see that contractor expectations for 2023 are positive and that workloads have remained high across the industry, however ongoing recruitment difficulties are clearly affecting companies’ ability to attract new jobs accept.” . It is therefore more important than ever that industry and government work to tackle the skills problem. Contractors concerned about meeting their skill needs are encouraged to use the NFRC’s free careers service for information and support.
“NFRC offers a range of services to help roofing contractors recruit and retain their workforce during this difficult time. Any roofing or siding contractors are welcome to contact us for fully funded support to find, hire and continue a new business starter through the ‘ECO Project’. This means that the contractor and their new member of the roofing team, whether trainee, manual worker, administrative clerk or in another position, receive advice and support from us from the time their job advertisement is published until the employee’s sixth month of work post.
“The only condition is that the employee is either new to the roofing industry or comes back from the industry after some time. NFRC’s online careers service also has completely free and accessible resources that guide companies through an effective recruiting process and provide contractors with the tools to grow their workforce.
“NFRC members can also receive support from the NFRC Charitable Trust Inclusion Fund, which provides funding to employers’ efforts to recruit new employees from diverse backgrounds, including site visits and hands-on demonstrations. Attracting talent and recognizing that new hires are needed to fill out the experienced workforce are integral parts of ensuring we have a skilled roofing workforce for years to come.”
projectscot.com
https://projectscot.com/2023/06/labour-challenges-persist-as-roofing-workloads-rise/
