Builder / extensions: how busy are builders?
Quieter Extension waits were long (median 10 weeks, TradeMatch, to Q1 2026), but FMB's newer survey shows builders' workloads (-4) and enquiries (-10) turned negative in H1 2026.
Median wait of 10 weeks to start (TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026).
The figures
| Where | Measure | Figure | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Change in number of businesses, year on year House building businesses, year-on-year change | -7% | Year to mid-2025 | Markel Direct via Fix Radio, 15 Jul 2025 |
| UK | Builders' employment (net balance) Jul-Dec 2025 | +17 | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | Builders' employment (net balance) | -4 | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | Builders' enquiries (net balance) Jul-Dec 2025 | +18 | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | Builders' enquiries (net balance) | -10 | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | Builders reporting higher material costs 61% passed costs on to customers | 75% | H2 2025 | Construction Management, 1 Apr 2026 |
| UK | Builders reporting higher material costs | 75% | H1 2026 | FMB Scotland, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | Median wait to start (weeks) Capacity status per TradeMatch: Tight | 10 weeks | Q3 2025 to Q1 2026 | TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026 |
| UK | Slowest 10% wait (weeks) 90th-percentile wait | 16 weeks | Q3 2025 to Q1 2026 | TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026 |
| UK | SME builders hit by skills shortages | 72% | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | SME builders hit by skills shortages Earlier reading, quoted by Construction Management | 61% | H1 2025 | Construction Management, 1 Apr 2026 |
| UK | SME builders hit by skills shortages | 68% | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | SME builders whose growth was prevented | 18% | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | SME builders with cancelled jobs | 22% | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | SME builders with cancelled jobs | 21% | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | SME builders with delayed jobs | 49% | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | SME builders with delayed jobs | 47% | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| UK | SME builders that paused expansion | 30% | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | Builders' workloads (net balance) Jul-Dec 2025 | +22 | H2 2025 (Jul-Dec) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| UK | Builders' workloads (net balance) | -4 | H1 2026 (Jan-Jun) | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026 |
| England | Builders' enquiries (net balance) | +19 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Scotland | Builders' enquiries (net balance) | +16 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Wales | Builders' enquiries (net balance) | +14 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Builders' enquiries (net balance) | +12 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Scotland | Builders' enquiries (net balance) Only UK nation where enquiries rose | +9 | H1 2026 | FMB Scotland, 10 Nov 2026 |
| Wales | Builders' enquiries (net balance) | -8 | H1 2026 | FMB Cymru, 10 Nov 2026 |
| England | Builders' workloads (net balance) | +22 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Scotland | Builders' workloads (net balance) | +28 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Wales | Builders' workloads (net balance) | +7 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Builders' workloads (net balance) | +35 | H2 2025 | FMB/CIOB State of Trade H2 2025, 31 Mar 2026 |
| Scotland | Builders' workloads (net balance) | +31 | H1 2026 | FMB Scotland, 10 Nov 2026 |
| England | Builders' workloads (net balance) | -9 | H1 2026 | FMB Scotland, 10 Nov 2026 |
| Wales | Builders' workloads (net balance) | +14 | H1 2026 | FMB Cymru, 10 Nov 2026 |
Industry backdrop
Across construction, most demand signals point quieter: PMI 43.6 in October 2026 and builders' enquiries at -10 in H1 2026. See all demand signals.
Getting into the trade
- Apprenticeship: Level 2 General Builder Apprenticeship (newly approved, per FMB)
Source: FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026. We haven't yet verified a National Careers Service profile for this trade.
We haven't yet verified published course prices for this trade. Course providers can get in touch.
Common questions
How long is the wait for builders?
TradeMatch's 2026 Wait-Time Index put the median wait for extension builder at 10 weeks from accepting a quote to work starting, with the slowest 10% waiting 16 weeks (jobs from Q3 2025 to Q1 2026).
Source: TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026
Are builders getting busier or quieter?
Quieter. Extension waits were long (median 10 weeks, TradeMatch, to Q1 2026), but FMB's newer survey shows builders' workloads (-4) and enquiries (-10) turned negative in H1 2026. Across construction as a whole, most indicators point quieter: the UK Construction PMI was 43.6 in October 2026.
Source: TradeMatch Wait-Time Index, 21 Apr 2026; FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026; S&P Global UK Construction PMI, 5 Nov 2026
How do I become a builder?
One route is the Level 2 General Builder Apprenticeship (newly approved, per FMB). We haven't yet verified a National Careers Service profile for this trade.
Source: FMB/CIOB State of Trade H1 2026, 10 Nov 2026