Average earnings for freelancers fell by 2.9 per cent last month as the impact of coronavirus started to filter through to building sites, according to latest figures released by Hudson Contract.

Analysis of payroll data for more than 2,200 construction companies in England and Wales shows a weekly average of £897 for freelancers in March, down from £924 in February.

The Government imposed a wide-ranging social and economic lockdown on March 23 but has said the construction sector can continue to work under new site operating procedures developed by the Construction Leadership Council.

Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “Our thoughts first and foremost are with those construction workers and their families who have been affected by this

terrible virus.

“We are closely monitoring the impact on the industry by speaking to our clients and through our bellwether pay trends data. We are sharing our insights with the Bank of England so policymakers are best placed to respond to the rapidly changing situation.

“Not surprisingly the latest survey from purchasing managers shows the steepest fall in construction output since the fallout from the global financial crisis in 2009 although they showed housebuilding dropped at a comparatively modest rate.

However, we know from speaking to clients and freelancers that most housebuilding sites are now closed. Essential infrastructure and utility repair work is continuing but planned upgrades are stuttering. Work on government and privately funded projects stopped whilst the main contractors and our clients took stock and worked on safe working methods. They are now ready to open back up and test whether work can be done safely.

“We are functioning as near normal as we can be and remain focused on supporting our clients as they build the housing and infrastructure that Britain will need to recover from this period of crisis.”Hudson Contract delivers the most accurate indication of subcontractor pay trends across the construction industry, publishing the average pay for a spectrum of 17 different trades split across 10 regions in England and Wales.