Ian Murdoch, an academic at Northumbria University's built environment school and the author of the report, warned that the result may be a seasonal blip.
He said: "People are still saying the skills shortage has the greatest effect on their long-term prospects."
Murdoch added that fourth quarter research was affected by an unusually low response rate.
The report showed that the average wait for payment remained between 30 and 60 days.
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