Builders are now “definitely less pessimistic” about future workloads, according to the latest survey by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Encouragingly, the survey also shows a slowing in the rate of decline in three of nine construction sectors during the first quarter – private housing, public non-residential new build and public non-residential repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI).
But the FMB said conditions remain very tough and any positive changes are from a low base.
Across the construction sector, 65% of survey respondents reported a decline, with the industrial sector worst hit – 73% of respondents reported a reverse in this market.
Workloads in the private RMI market continued to decline in the first quarter as consumers remained reluctant to spend on big ticket improvements due to ongoing economic uncertainty. Almost 56% of respondents indicated a decline, while 13% experienced higher workloads.
Meanwhile, fewer than half of respondents (42%) expected to cut staffing levels over the coming six months, better than the previous quarter.
