There are tough times underway and ahead for many workers in the building and construction industries, but recent stats show even for those who are working – wage growth remains modest.

Including overtime the average full-time adult in the industry took home $1,637.50 each week in May this year – up slightly from $1,607.70 last November and $1,578.60 in May 2012.

In its latest estimates, the Australian Bureau of Statistics have figured the number of people employed in the industry at 1.004 million throughout the three months to May. It is the third lowest level recorded in three years.

Insiders say the figures reinforce the subdued nature of the industrial labour market’s condition amid low levels of building activity.

The stats taken from the latest Clarius Skills Index show the previously high demand for engineers on resource and infrastructure projects is diminishing. At the same time, demand for architects and builders remains weak too. The impacts of the challenging conditions are being felt across the industry, except in some isolated areas of growth and investment such as Perth and Darwin.

There has also been a statistically-evidenced widening in the gender pay gap for the construction industry. Stats show pay rates for women in the industry declined 3.38 per cent over the six months to May while those for men rose 2.2 per cent.

Experts have speculated that the situation is set to worsen; with further hits to the industry compounded by a lack of up-and-coming apprentices, which could create a labour shortage.