While the February bounce is in keeping with annual trends, the rates are 13.4% higher than the same month last year.

The analysis is from Hudson Contract, provider of tax status and employment contract services to the construction industry.

Ian Anfield, Managing Director at Hudson Contract, said: “It has been a mild start to the year and demand on sites remains high for skilled trades including plumbers. We have had a busy month for entering new contracts and we are seeing anecdotal evidence of more Europeans returning to the UK labour market.

“Our construction clients are telling us they have full order books but they are not seeing as many enquiries as this time last year. That’s consistent with what we said last month – that some housebuilders have eased up on the accelerator.”