The trade body, which represents small and medium-sized construction firms, said the figures paint a worrying picture that the UK Government must address to ensure that builders do not face a cliff-edge in the construction supply chain from January 2021.

After a busy summer, workloads are slowing. Combined with rising material prices and key shortages in timber, tiling, white goods and PVC windows and doors, further steps must be taken to support construction at this crucial time, and end the uncertainty, as we build, build, build our way out of the coronavirus crisis.

The latest findings from the FMB State of Trade Survey for Q3 2020 include:

• Nine in ten builders (87%) said material costs are rising, up from eight in ten (78%) in the summer
• Only four in ten builders (39%) reported a rise in workloads, down from five in ten (47%) in Q2
• Employment edged into positive territory for the first time since Q4 2019
• However, one in three builders (29%) struggled to hire bricklayers, and one in four (25%) struggled to hire carpenters

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “Builders are facing significant material shortages and growing waiting times for the products they need. With the end of the Brexit transition period only weeks away, builders need confidence that they will not face delays at the ports and price hikes going into 2021. With 87% of builders forecasting material price hikes, recovery risks grinding to a halt if these issues are not resolved.

“In the face of rising unemployment and continued economic uncertainty, my members are reporting that homeowners are holding off planning home improvements next year. Builders in the new build and industrial or commercial sectors are also reporting contracting workloads. By investing in a long-term plan to green our existing homes, and by ramping up funding for local authority planning departments, the Government can help support recovery and job retention in construction.”