The cost of hiring a self-employed plumber has risen by 6.7% in a month, according to Hudson Contract.
The largest provider of tax status and employment contract services to the construction industry said average weekly earnings reached £1,095 in December.
This was the highest level since the start of the pandemic and 9.4% higher than the same month in 2020. The previous high was £1,179 in February 2020 in the weeks before the first lockdown.
Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “We capped off 2021 with the highest earnings for plumbing contractors since the start of the pandemic.
“As we have seen year after year, we usually see earnings fall back in January because people will be working fewer hours. We then expect a steady rise in earnings to reach December levels by April.”