Question Time: Bonuses, Burnout, and the QS Brain Drain – What's Going On? (Ep 240)

Own The Build

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In this episode of Own the Build, Paul is joined once again by his co-founder and sidekick, Chris Barber, for another round of Question Time. This time, the duo dives deep into one of the most shocking industry stats of 2025: the QS workforce has dropped by over 30% in just 12 months.

Together, they unpack why so many quantity surveyors are leaving the industry and discuss the knock-on effects on teams, projects, and future recruitment. From Reddit threads to anecdotes about early careers, to the pressures of poor tech and endless conflict – this is a raw and honest look at the current commercial landscape.

They also answer a range of listener questions including:

• Should QSs be getting bonuses for value engineering?
• Does a WhatsApp chat really count as a legally binding contract?
• How to think about early career progression and finding the right company fit.

This is an essential listen for QSs of all levels looking to make sense of today's challenges and get ahead in a changing market.

🔗 Check the link below to download Paul’s free ebook:

Mastering Construction Procurement Strategies for Supply Chain Integration, Tendering, and Commercial Success

For our list of other eBooks on building your QS Career and AI, click here - Free eBook Downloads.

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Paul is on Linkedin here and would love to talk. You can also connect with Paul at [email protected] or through, C-Link.

C-Link is software built by Quantity Surveyors for Quantity Surveyors. We save 600 hours of Quantity Surveying time per project in automation. We can make your QS’ so much more efficient.

Watch the Video to learn more; you can book a demo by clicking here.