A poll by Giant Group has found 63% of engineers expect hourly rates to rise in response to positive forecasts. Whilst other sectors are feeling the impact of the credit crunch only 3.9% of engineering contractors are predicting a decline in earnings during the next 12 months.

“The engineering sector has been relatively isolated from the effects of the credit crisis so far. Despite fears that bank financing for some projects would become harder to secure, the majority of projects are proceeding as planned,” said Matthew Brown, managing director of Giant Group.