Average earnings for self-employed plumbers closed in on £1,000 a week last month, according to the construction industry’s biggest payer of subcontractors.

Hudson Contract said weekly pay rose by 1.5% to £991 during November in spite of the second national lockdown. Ahead of the restrictions, ministers clarified that tradespeople could continue to enter homes.  

Ian Anfield, Managing Director of Hudson Contract, said: “Undoubtedly the clear guidance from government ensured that self-employed tradespeople could continue safely going about their business during the national lockdown.

“Most of our construction clients are reporting a decent amount of activity and have already secured projects for next year.

“The housebuilding sector remains buoyant with support measures due to continue into the first quarter of 2021 and the government is committed to new infrastructure spending.”

Hudson Contract delivers an accurate indication of pay trends across the sector, publishing the average pay for a spectrum of 17 different trades split across 10 regions in England and Wales.

The family-owned group supplies statistics to the Bank of England to keep policymakers updated with real-time insights on demand for skilled labour.