Further increases in workload and workforce are expected in the first quarter of this year. New build, repair maintenance and improvement of private housing and commercial buildings are expected to be the main growth areas.
However, the survey said the shortage of skilled labour continued to restrict growth. Two in three firms indicated that they had difficulty recruiting employees and hiring subcontractors.
The survey also found that there had been an increase in industrial and commercial work in the non-residential sector. But the RICS said there had been a slump in the UK commercial property market since its last quarterly survey, suggesting that contractors might soon experience a fall in speculative office work.
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