Brickies on their phones cement building’s productivity crisis

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 6, 2026

British construction sites have seen a 20 percent decline in productivity since the 1970s, due to factors like increased project complexity, workforce turnover, and excessive smartphone use during work hours, according to Mace's executive chairman Mark Reynolds. This decline, costing the industry millions annually and causing the UK to lag behind international peers, highlights the urgent need for streamlined designs and better efficiency to sustain the sector’s future competitiveness.

British construction sites are significantly less productive today than they were in the 1970s, with work output declining by an estimated 20 percent over the past five decades, according to Mark Reynolds, executive chairman of construction firm Mace. Citing a combination of increased project complexity, workforce turnover, and greater regulatory demands, Reynolds warned that these factors are contributing to a growing productivity crisis in the industry.

Reynolds highlighted that workers on site spend only around two to three hours of a typical seven-hour workday engaged in direct building activities such as bricklaying. He attributed some of this lost productivity to the rising prevalence of smartphone use during work hours. While acknowledging that mobile devices can be useful tools when used appropriately, Reynolds said excessive phone use detracts from actual labour on site.

“The problem we’ve got in society, with everyone looking at their phones in the workplace, is really not helpful,” Reynolds said. “If someone’s using a tool to help get information, great. But if they’re on the phone all the time, it’s not helpful because you’re not doing any work.”

Mace’s findings, drawn from analysis of the company’s own data and official industry statistics, also point to a structural challenge in the sector caused by increased fragmentation. Nearly all construction firms in the UK—98 percent—employ fewer than 50 people, which means projects frequently involve multiple contractors and high staff turnover. This results in delays as new workers require time to acclimatise, and handovers between contractors disrupt workflow.

On large-scale sites with thousands of workers, Mace estimates these inefficiencies cost the industry £20,000 in lost output every hour, equating to approximately £34 million annually.

The report further indicates that Britain’s construction pace lags behind international peers. For example, the time required to complete a high-rise residential building in the UK is reportedly twice as long as it takes in Australia.

Reynolds acknowledged that improvements in safety standards over the decades are justified but argued that the sector must counterbalance regulatory demands with streamlined and standardised designs to boost efficiency, especially in public infrastructure projects. He warned that bespoke or highly customised designs contribute to complexity and reduce overall productivity.

Mace, known for its involvement in major projects including HS2, the London Eye, and the 2012 Olympics, emphasised that addressing these productivity challenges is crucial for the future competitiveness and sustainability of the UK construction industry.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.