Nearly half (44%) of UK plumbers, electricians, builders and carpenters are quoting for more work now than 12 months ago, according to new research.
The Screwfix Trade Pulse index found that of the 95% of tradespeople currently working, 67% had enough work to keep them busy and 16% claimed to have more work than they can manage.
Almost half (48%) believe business will also improve for them over the next year.
However, concern around the general UK economy could quash this optimism, with almost one-in-three (32%) saying they thought it would worsen in the next 12 months. This had increased from the 20% who said the same last year.
Andrew Livingston, chief executive of Screwfix, said: “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 over 470 stores.”