Bricklayer: how busy are bricklayers?
No trend data yet 29% of SME builders named bricklayers among the hardest roles to fill (FMB H2 2025). No trade-specific trend data; house building, their biggest market, is falling (PMI 35.1).
No verified wait-time figure yet; tell us yours.
The figures
| Where | Measure | Figure | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Extra workers needed per year, 2026-2030 CITB group: Bricklayers and masons | 1,080 workers per year | 2026-2030 average | CITB Workforce Outlook, 17 Jun 2026 |
| UK | Extra workers needed per year (% of workforce) CITB group: Bricklayers and masons | 1.6% | 2026-2030 average | CITB Workforce Outlook, 17 Jun 2026 |
| UK | SME builders naming it a hardest role to fill Share of SME builders naming this as a hardest role to fill | 29% | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | Workforce, 2025 CITB group: Bricklayers and masons | 65,880 workers | 2025 actual | CITB Workforce Outlook, 17 Jun 2026 |
| UK | Workforce forecast, 2030 CITB group: Bricklayers and masons | 68,630 workers | 2030 forecast | CITB Workforce Outlook, 17 Jun 2026 |
| England | Experienced salary | £45,000 | Live page | National Careers Service, not stated (live pages) |
| England | Starter salary | £25,000 | Live page | National Careers Service, not stated (live pages) |
Industry backdrop
Across construction, most demand signals point quieter: PMI 43.6 in October 2026 and builders' enquiries at -10 in H1 2026. See all demand signals.
Getting into the trade
- Apprenticeship: Bricklaying (Level 2) / Craft Bricklaying (Level 3)
- College course, then a trainee role
- Start as an assistant or mate and train on the job
- Private adult courses for career-changers (below)
Routes: National Careers Service job profile
| Provider | Course | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Able Skills | City & Guilds Bricklaying Course | £1,895 inc VAT |
| Able Skills | Bricklaying Course with Training for NVQ Level 2 | £3,295 inc VAT |
| Able Skills | Introduction to Bricklaying | £525 inc VAT |
| Able Skills | Advanced Bricklaying Course | £525 inc VAT |
| Able Skills | Extended Bricklaying Programme | £2,495 inc VAT |
Prices as published on providers' sites, checked 10 November 2026. Listing is not an endorsement, and no provider has paid to appear.
Common questions
How long is the wait for bricklayers?
We haven't yet found a verified, published wait-time figure for bricklayers specifically. Our tradesperson poll will add one. For urgent repairs of any kind, Markel Direct's survey found waits of 3 to 10 days depending on the city.
Source: Markel Direct via Fix Radio, 15 Jul 2025
Are bricklayers getting busier or quieter?
We don't have a trade-specific trend yet. 29% of SME builders named bricklayers among the hardest roles to fill (FMB H2 2025). No trade-specific trend data; house building, their biggest market, is falling (PMI 35.1). Across construction as a whole, most indicators point quieter: the UK Construction PMI was 43.6 in October 2026.
Source: FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026; S&P Global UK Construction PMI, 5 Nov 2026; S&P Global UK Construction PMI, 5 Nov 2026
Is there a shortage of bricklayers?
CITB's Construction Workforce Outlook says the UK needs about 1,080 extra bricklayers and masons a year from 2026 to 2030 to cover growth and people leaving, around 1.6% of the current workforce each year.
Source: CITB Workforce Outlook, 17 Jun 2026