OIL and gas contractors in the North Sea plan to lay off almost one in five UK-based workers this year as industry confidence remains low, a new report has found.

The latest oil and gas survey is the "most negative" yet, according to a partner at its sponsors, law firm Bond Dickinson.

The report found three-quarters of North Sea oil and gas contractors are "less confident" about their prospects than they were a year ago. However, confidence levels have marginally improved from their record low in November.

Firms surveyed reported a 15 per cent fall in UK staff in the past 12 months and expect a further 17 per cent of staff to lose their jobs this year - almost triple the 6 per cent predicted six months ago.

About one in four companies (24 per cent) said their top priority is cutting costs while 42 per cent cited increasing efficiency and productivity as their main concern.

The joint survey by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and the Fraser of Allander Institute found 14 per cent of contractors reported working at or above optimum levels in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) compared to 79 per cent three years ago.

The level of demand, commodity price and economic climate are cited as the top factors limiting activity in the North Sea and 42 per cent of firms expect to reduce investment in the next two years, while 12 per cent plan to increase it.

One projected area of growth is decommissioning, with 85 per cent of contractors expecting to increase their involvement in this sector in the next three to five years - up from 79 per cent six months ago.

Questioned on the EU referendum, 45 per cent of respondents said it was difficult to reach a clear view whether a Brexit vote would be positive for the industry, 20 per cent said it would make little difference, 27 per cent said it would be "unhelpful" and 7 per cent believed it would be positive.

Uisdean Vass, oil and gas partner at Bond Dickinson, said: "Six months ago I described the 23rd Oil and Gas Survey as the most negative we had experienced. Unfortunately this, the 24th survey has surpassed it.

"The uncertainty which all those in the industry face at the moment regarding their livelihoods continues and any slowdown in the shedding of jobs does not appear to be materialising."

Russell Borthwick, chief executive at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: "In the previous two surveys we carried out, we found confidence had hit record lows, with an all-time low in November 2015.

"This time, while the figure is still firmly in negative territory, it has marginally improved, which may perhaps show we are near the bottom of the curve."

Mr Borthwick was formerly regional managing director of Trinity Mirror North East the publishers of The Chronicle, The Journal, The Gazette and Sunday Sun.