Hudson Contract reports that average weekly earnings for plumbers increased to £967 during May, a rise of 4.5% on the previous month. 

Ian Anfield, Managing Director of Hudson Contract, said: “We are starting to see the impact of people leaving the UK ahead of the EU Settlement Scheme deadline on June 30 and not being replaced by incomers.

“First and foremost, this is affecting London which has the highest concentration of foreign construction workers and the most transient labour market. There is shedloads of construction work about and growing pressure on the availability of both labour and materials.

“We expect some respite for construction companies with the closure of the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in September which should encourage claimants back onto projects.”