A UK based survey of construction professionals, conducted by ‘Building’ magazine, claims that salary is the most important incentive for 40 per cent of those surveyed. “Of the professions, main contractors appeared to be the most mercenary, valuing salary far above other aspects of their jobs, and architects the least, valuing work/life balance and promotion almost as much as money.”
The survey also stated that most construction personnel in the UK received a pay rise in line with inflation last year. But 15 per cent of those surveyed received no pay rise at all. It said:

• Nearly half of those receiving a bonus - (500 out of 800 people) said it was linked to company profits,
• A third to their own performance.
• A quarter of respondents enjoyed final salary pension provision, though these were much less common among the under 35s - a sign that firms are continuing to phase them out across the industry.”

Of the 60 highest earning respondents with salaries over £65,000, only two were women, five were younger than 35.
The survey said “salary was the most important incentive across the board, with 40 per cent of the vote. Flexible working hours and promotion prospects follow as distant joint seconds at 18 per cent.” For the under 35s, salary and promotion prospects were by far the most important incentives, but for their senior, more family oriented colleagues, working close to home and flexible hours became much more significant.

The three most important items in a new salary package aside from salary were

• Profit share or bonus arrangements,
• A company pension scheme and
• A car or a car allowance,

Civil engineers and building surveyors were less concerned about bonuses; project managers prized pensions while Quantity Surveyors didn't.