Knowledge Hub

The latest UK construction figures paint a slightly confusing picture. Construction activity is still declining. Housebuilding remains weak. Employment across the sector continues to fall. Yet, at the same time, permanent recruitment has started to improve and some hire businesses are making significant investments in specialist equipment. So, is the market struggling or recovering?

As the industry heads into a new year and the final quarter of the financial year, this piece explores why experienced people are becoming the true competitive advantage in plant and hire, and what it’s really costing businesses to ignore that shift.

The other day I had a chat that made me think about how much our industry has changed, and where it’s really heading next...

We had a role come across our desk recently - a Plant Fitter position with a £45k salary, van, and great overtime potential. On paper, it should have been snapped up. But even with a strong package, we struggled to fill it...

Discover the current state of the UK construction hire industry in 2025 - from market slowdowns and redundancies to tech-driven talent needs - and how smart recruitment can offer real solutions. Insight from KMC Recruitment.

The construction and plant hire industries are currently facing a significant skills shortage, particularly when it comes to plant hire fitters. As the demand for heavy machinery and equipment continues to grow, the supply of skilled workers has not kept pace. This gap presents a unique challenge for employers but also an opportunity to rethink recruitment strategies and tap into a broader talent pool.