Why Temporary Construction Workers Are the Backbone of the Build
There's around 2 million construction workers in the UK right now (Statista, 2025) - and nearly 1 in 3 are on temporary contracts (CITB, 2023). That’s a serious amount of steel-toe boots, hard hats and high-vis on site every day.
Day in, day out, thousands of temps across the country show up, and get the job done. Without them, simply put, progress would stall. Every site has different labour demands and project goals - if you’re not using temps yet, it might be time to rethink.
5 reasons why temps are the backbone of construction:
Flexibility: Temp workers are flexible, on-demand support - there when you need them, gone when you don’t. They help you scale your site team to match the workload, and if plans shift, they’re easy to reassign to new tasks or projects.
Specialist Skills-set: Think of a new build: groundworkers start the job, then carpenters frame it, roofers seal it, and plumbers and sparkies follow. Different stages need different skills - bringing in temps for specialist tasks just makes sense.
Cost-saving: Temps are a smart way to scale. They help you stay on track with project timelines and budgets and often bring real commitment, knowing they’ve got a limited period of time to make an impact. You’re not just saving money; you’re getting more for it.
Timesaving: Site Managers should be focused on running the site, not chasing down workers. That’s where we come in, Thorn Baker Construction finds, vets, and preps your workers - right down to making sure they’ve got the right PPE to hit the ground running. All that’s left for you is to welcome them on-site and let them get to work. If a temp leaves or needs to be let go, finding a replacement to step in is quick and easy with a recruitment partner like us, so your project stays on track with minimal disruption.
Improved morale all-round: Temps can bring fresh perspectives from their varied experience across sites and projects, often introducing new methods that can push your operations forward. Plus, temps help balance workloads, easing pressure on permanent staff and boosting overall workplace well-being.
The number of temps working with recruitment agencies has been on a continued upward trend since 2015, so there’s no shortage of temps looking for work.
Whether it’s short-notice cover or a full squad for a major project, Thorn Baker Construction has the site-ready tradespeople to help you deliver. Get in contact with our Construction Recruitment Specialists today: www.thornbaker.co.uk/disciplines/construction