Where to advertise trade and construction jobs
Start with a clear vacancy and a working application route. Then choose advertising channels that suit the trade, working area and help you need. Compare the cost of the advert with what is actually included, rather than treating a job-board audience figure as a promise of applicants.
A useful starting combination is your own careers page, the relevant free government service and one additional channel with a clear purpose. For example, a specialist trade job board can be one place to advertise an electrician vacancy; a recruitment agency is a different choice if you want help finding and assessing people.
Last checked . AI-assisted source review by UK Trade Jobs. How we check facts.
Which advertising channel suits the vacancy?
| Channel | Cost to check | Audience and useful fit |
|---|---|---|
| UK Trade Jobs | £49 single listing, 30 days from publication; check checkout terms. | A specialist trade jobs audience; useful for clearly described practical roles. This is our service, and applications are not guaranteed. |
| Find an apprenticeship | Free government vacancy advertising for eligible apprenticeships in England. | People looking for an apprenticeship; work with your training provider or apprenticeship service account. |
| Indeed | Free postings subject to eligibility, quality rules and usage limits; optional paid sponsorship. | A general jobs audience; useful to compare alongside a specialist channel. Check the actual terms offered for your listing. |
| CV-Library | Paid advertising packages; check current price, duration and extras before purchase. | A general job board and advertising network; compare location targeting and application handling for the role. |
| Local colleges and training providers | Ask the provider; there is no universal price or service. | Potential relevance to a particular course, trade and area. Ask whether it shares employer vacancies and which learners it can reach. |
For an apprentice vacancy, check the wage and full employment budget before advertising.
Choose the channel for the job
- Your careers page: keep one accurate version of the vacancy, with a closing date and application instructions. Link to it from adverts where the platform allows this.
- A specialist trade or construction job board: compare relevant categories, location search, listing duration and the route applicants will take. Review a sample advert before paying.
- A general job site: check whether posting, promotion and CV search are separate products. Look at the terms for your vacancy and account, including any ongoing budget or renewal.
- Local and professional networks: share the actual vacancy and work location. Give people a public application route instead of relying on replies to a social post.
- A recruitment agency: agree the work it will do, charges and terms directly. Buying an advert and commissioning a recruitment service are different decisions.
Acas recommends using more than one advertising route and considering who each route reaches. Its advertising guidance for Great Britain explains why relying only on social media can exclude potential applicants.
Check the free government service for your nation
For England, Scotland and Wales, employers can advertise through Find a job. The Department for Work and Pensions describes it as a free service in its employer guidance.
For Northern Ireland, JobApplyNI lets employers register and manage vacancies online for free. Follow the relevant service’s current registration and advert requirements.
A paid listing should have a reason alongside those options. That might be a particular trade audience, help preparing the advert or an agreed feed arrangement. None of those reasons guarantees applications.
Ask six questions before buying job advertising
- What is the full cost? Check the number of listings, duration, any tax shown at checkout, optional extras and whether payment repeats.
- When does the listing start? Confirm whether the advertised period begins at payment or publication, and how to close or update a vacancy.
- Where will applications go? Test the destination on a phone. A careers-page link, email route and hosted application form are different experiences.
- What does the reporting count? Separate advert views, apply clicks, completed applications, interviews and hires. Ask how each measure is collected.
- Is the audience relevant? Check the trade and working area. National traffic is not evidence of available candidates for your particular shift or site.
- What happens if the advert needs work? Check support, editing and refund terms. Get clarification before paying if an important condition is unclear.
Give tradespeople enough detail to decide
An electrician comparing mobile maintenance with a fixed-site installation role needs to know the difference. A carpenter needs to see whether the work is first fix, second fix or workshop based. A labourer needs a usable site location and working pattern.
State the offered pay and its period, expected hours, travel arrangements and genuine essential requirements. Replace vague phrases such as “competitive rate” with confirmed information when you have it. Our trade job advert template gives you a brief to complete.
If you advertise vacancies for clients
Agree who has authorised each advert, who will keep it current and who receives applications. Keep closed vacancies out of any feed you supply. Before buying a managed-feed service, confirm the source format, eligible roles and how changes or closures will be handled.
Recruiters should also check the rules that apply to their agency and location. See GOV.UK’s agency advertising guidance for Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s employment agency rules.
Advertising on UK Trade Jobs
UK Trade Jobs offers a Single Listing for £49, live for 30 days from publication, with a one-off payment. Reporting covers listing views and apply clicks. It does not establish completed applications or hires, and Google Jobs inclusion is not guaranteed.
A five-listing bundle and a separate monthly managed feed are also available. Check the current options and ask about feed compatibility before choosing a subscription.