Construction to create most senior-level jobs, according to survey

Jo Faragher

The construction industry will create the most new jobs for senior executives this year in the private sector, according to research by interim recruitment company Interim Partners.

The popularity of schemes such as Help to Buy and a buoyant house market has increased the need for solid senior talent in construction firms, which are seeing a surge in activity in 

both residential and commercial sectors.

This comes into stark contrast to 2010, when the sector had been hit hard by the credit crunch, and only 4% of respondents reported that the construction sector would create the most new jobs. 

Adam Kyriacou, Partner at Interim Partners, explained: “The construction sector is benefitting hugely from the improving economy, with more senior assignments as major projects get underway.” 

“This is feeding through into high demand for interims to oversee projects and enable house builders and other construction companies to respond rapidly to changes in the market.”

Other sectors with high demand for interim managers are technology, media and telecommunications (23% of respondents reported this sector as having most demand), and manufacturing and engineering (16% of respondents). The number reporting technology as the biggest sector for executive roles has more than trebled since 2012, when it was just 7%.

Kyriacou added: “The successful floatation of tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter as well as smaller British companies such as Just-Eat has provided a big boost to job growth expectations in the technology and media sector.” 

“ It’s not just the established tech giants either – many interims are now being hired to steer start-ups through their vital growth phase, often with the specific brief of preparing them for an IPO.”