Almost half (44%) of plumbers, builders, electricians, carpenters and other trades in the UK say that they are quoting for more work than this time last year, according to the latest survey carried out by Screwfix.

Out of the 95% of tradespeople currently working, most of them (67%) said that they have sufficient work to keep them busy, while 16% say that they have more work than they can handle.

Almost half (48%) believe that business will improve for them during the next 12 months.

However, the most recent Trade Pulse report also showed that this optimism is tempered with a degree of concern about the UK economy in general.

Almost one in three (32%) believe that it will get worse over the course of the next year, rising from 20% who felt the same way this time last year.

Trade Pulse is a monthly index from Screwfix’s umbrella organisation, Screwfix, which surveys over 500 tradespeople in the UK including plumbing and heating engineers to track trade optimism and work levels.

The retailer carries out the research to gather further insight into the needs of its customers to make sure that it provides the required products and services.

Chief Executive Officer of Screwfix, Andrew Livingston, commented: “The optimism seen among the UK’s tradespeople at the start of 2016 is continuing, however, there also seems to be more uncertainty on the nation’s economic outlook from the trade.

“Despite this, it is very encouraging to see that many continue to be in work, with more jobs to come, which is something we see reflected by our busy trade customers across our network of Screwfix trade counters.”

However, earlier in the month it was said that UK tradespeople have expressed a degree of concern about the future of the general UK economy despite the reported high levels of work within the construction industry.