Professional, scientific and technical services – including financial management, scientific research and development have received the UK’s highest increase in average wage since the pandemic began, a new study shows.
Comparing ONS average wage figures from January 2020 with those from July of this year, research from leading software developers Bacancy Technology reveals that the average salary for those working in professional, scientific and technical services has gone up by 11.4% – the highest increase across industries in the UK. Overall, this sector’s monthly pay packet of £2,270 per month in Jan 2020 has increased to £2,529 in July of this year.
Roles within the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector have seen the second highest average wage increase, going up by 10.8%. The industry’s average has gone from £1,255 in January of 2020 to £1,391 in 2021 – a growth of £136.
Though positions within Finance and insurance saw the third highest percentage increase in wages of 10.6%, the sector saw the highest raw average financial increase from last January to this July, of £308. Average wages in this sector increased from £2,883 to £3,191 per month.
At the other end of the spectrum, employees within Accommodation and Food Services ranked with the lowest wage growth, both in percentage and raw financial increase – seeing an average increase of less than 1% – just £8 per month.
Construction services have also seen slow growth over the lockdown period, placing the second lowest in the table with an average increase of just 1% – an additional £23 per month to their pay checks.
Assessing these findings, a spokesperson from Bacancy Technology:
“This breakdown shows a number of interesting facts surrounding the UK’s most lucrative industries for personal financial growth over time. The rising demand for financial guidance, agricultural suppliers and medical research and development over lockdown has clearly impacted the wages received by the employees of these businesses.”
This research was conducted by app development company Bacancy Technology, an exclusive hub of top software developers, UI/UX designers, QA experts and more, offering development services aimed at the creation of high-end, enviable applications.
UK industry average wage increases – January 2020 to July 2021
| Sector | Avg. wage in GBP (Jan '20) | Avg. wage in GBP (Jul '21) | Increase in GBP from Jan '20 to July '21 | Raw financial increase rank | Percentage increase from Jan '20 to July '21 | Percentage increase rank |
| Finance and insurance | 2,883 | 3,191 | 308 | 1 | 10.68 | 3 |
| Information and communication | 2,836 | 3,129 | 293 | 2 | 10.33 | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical | 2,270 | 2,529 | 259 | 3 | 11.41 | 1 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 1,255 | 1,391 | 136 | 4 | 10.84 | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1,668 | 1,803 | 135 | 5 | 8.09 | 5 |
| Energy production and supply | 3,228 | 3,358 | 130 | 6 | 4.03 | 15 |
| Administrative and support services | 1,580 | 1,707 | 127 | 7 | 8.04 | 6 |
| Health and social work | 1,768 | 1,895 | 127 | 8 | 7.18 | 8 |
| Extraterritorial | 2,796 | 2,920 | 124 | 9 | 4.43 | 14 |
| Education | 1,891 | 2,013 | 122 | 10 | 6.45 | 9 |
| Real estate | 1,995 | 2,104 | 109 | 11 | 5.46 | 12 |
| Manufacturing | 2,298 | 2,402 | 104 | 12 | 4.53 | 13 |
| Other service activities | 1,360 | 1,461 | 101 | 13 | 7.43 | 7 |
| Transportation and storage | 2,254 | 2,344 | 90 | 14 | 3.99 | 16 |
| Wholesale and retail; repair of motor vehicles | 1,476 | 1,557 | 81 | 15 | 5.49 | 11 |
| Mining and quarrying | 3,870 | 3,939 | 69 | 16 | 1.78 | 19 |
| Water supply, sewerage and waste | 2,457 | 2,517 | 60 | 17 | 2.44 | 17 |
| Public administration and defence; social security | 2,460 | 2,519 | 59 | 18 | 2.40 | 18 |
| Households | 910 | 963 | 53 | 19 | 5.82 | 10 |
| Construction | 2,196 | 2,219 | 23 | 20 | 1.05 | 20 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,070 | 1,078 | 8 | 21 | 0.75 | 21 |
