The Q2 2017 UK Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey has found that 21% more respondents reported an increase in workloads than did not (down from 27% in the previous quarter).

This is despite a net balance of 29% of contributors reporting a rise in private housing activity.

Jeffrey Matsu, RICS senior economist, said: “Economic and political uncertainty appear to be weighing on sentiment, but all things considered, current conditions and year-ahead workload expectations are holding up rather well relative to the longer-term trend.

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“Given the ongoing nature of Brexit negotiations, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on financial conditions or the availability of skilled labour to the industry.”

Infrastructure workloads have remained unchanged for the most part, with roads, rail and energy expected to see the strongest growth in output over the coming 12 months.

The Midlands and East Anglia both saw activity continue to rise, boosted by a surge in infrastructure.

Some 21% more respondents saw their workloads in the private commercial sector rise rather than fall in Q2, down from 31% in the prior quarter, while private industrial activity also eased to 15% (from 22%).

In total, 44% more contributors expect activity to rise rather than fall (down from 53%) and only 29% more expect to see employment rise rather than fall, compared with an average of 32% over the four previous quarters.