Manchester Construction
Manchester’s construction industry is in the middle of a sustained period of activity, creating consistent demand for skilled workers across trades, technical, and professional roles. For anyone considering construction jobs in Manchester, this is a city where regeneration, infrastructure, and residential development continue to drive new opportunities.
Why Manchester is a construction hotspot
Manchester has been a key part of the UK’s “Northern Powerhouse” story, with large-scale regeneration reshaping the city centre and surrounding boroughs. Flagship schemes such as Victoria North, Mayfield and the wider city-centre regeneration pipeline are bringing tens of thousands of new homes, commercial space, and improved public realm to the region.
A £400m regeneration package approved across Greater Manchester is backing 17 major projects, including housing, logistics hubs, office refurbishments and mixed-use schemes, many of which are due to move on site from 2026. This level of committed investment underpins long-term demand for construction labour, from groundwork and civil engineering through to fit-out and building services.
Types of construction jobs in Manchester
The Manchester construction market offers roles at every level, from site-based trades to professional and technical positions.
Common roles include:
- Site labourers and general operatives
- Bricklayers, groundworkers, carpenters and other skilled trades
- Plant operators and machine drivers
- Site supervisors and site managers
- Quantity surveyors, estimators and commercial managers
- Project managers, planners and design coordinators
Pay rates remain competitive, with labourers and general operatives earning from around £15 per hour, while site managers, estimators and quantity surveyors can see salaries stretching well beyond £50,000 depending on experience and the complexity of projects. With the city continuing to grow and develop, employers frequently highlight the strong demand for experienced construction workers.
Market challenges and what employers want
Despite a busy pipeline, the sector is not without challenges. Recent data shows that some construction starts in Manchester have slowed, and firms across the UK have faced skills shortages and cost pressures in the last couple of years. For candidates, this means employers are looking closely at productivity, reliability, and specialist skills that add value on site.
In practice, contractors and developers in Manchester are prioritising workers who can:
- Move quickly between phases of a build and adapt to new sites
- Demonstrate strong health and safety awareness
- Work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams on complex urban projects
- Bring recognised trade qualifications or professional accreditation
For professionals, experience on large regeneration schemes, high-rise residential, retrofit, or commercial office refurbishment is particularly attractive as these projects feature heavily in the current pipeline.
How OnBoard Jobs can help you
OnBoard Jobs exists specifically to serve the UK construction industry, connecting tradespeople, professionals and technical specialists with employers that build and maintain the country’s infrastructure. Rather than competing with generic platforms, it focuses solely on construction, making it easier for Manchester based candidates to find roles that genuinely match their skills and career goals.
For jobseekers in Manchester, this means you can:
- Search only construction vacancies, from local contractors to national main contractors working in the city region
- Set up tailored job alerts so that relevant Manchester construction roles land straight in your inbox
- Upload your CV once and quickly apply for multiple site or office based positions across Greater Manchester
For employers, advertising through a dedicated construction job board ensures vacancies are seen by candidates who understand site environments, project pressures and industry terminology. Whether you are delivering a city centre tower, a neighbourhood regeneration, or critical enabling works on major infrastructure, OnBoard Jobs provides an efficient route to the skilled people who will bring your Manchester projects to life.