22/10/2013

NI Construction Sector Out Of Recession

A new survey has said Northern Ireland's construction industry is out of recession, with an increase in workloads being reported for the first time in more than five years.

The survey, from the Royal Institution of chartered Surveyors (RICS), however said NI is still falling behind the rest of the UK when it comes to recovery.

It has been estimated that at least 26,000 jobs in the region has been lost since 2008, around 30% of the workforce, but there is caution and "positivity" within the sector.

Spokesman Jim Sammon is quoted as saying: "It is encouraging to see the workload balance turn positive following a long period in which the construction market has experienced a very significant downturn.

"We are talking about small improvements from a low base and key challenges remain.

"Finance is tight, private sector activity remains scarce, and public sector demand remains constrained. We urge the NI Executive to encourage and nurture a recovery by increasing infrastructure spending."

(JP/CD)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 July 2018
Challenges Remain Within NI's Construction Sector
New figures have revealed challenges remain within Northern Ireland's construction sector.
13 August 2010
Derry Construction Projects Boosted
Continuing public sector investment in the North West plays a key role in transforming the UK City of Culture 2013, NI Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson has said.
27 June 2013
NIPSA Slam Chancellor's Budget Cuts
Public sector trade union, NIPSA, has criticised Chancellor George Osborne following Wednesday afternoon's Spending Review. Yesterday, Mr Osborne revealed Northern Ireland's budget for the year 2015/16 is to be cut by 2% to £9.6bn.
18 January 2012
UK Govt. Criticised Over Public-Sector Job Cuts
Northern Ireland will be the UK region hardest hit by public sector job cuts. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that 26,000 public sector jobs would go in NI by 2017. It said the executive must take firm action to defend the NI economy from the coalition government's plans.
14 October 2010
Economy Needs Fillip - Not Cut-backs
Stimulating enterprise and trade must be a priority going beyond public sector cuts says banking economists. According to the Northern Bank's Chief Economist Angela McGowan, (pictured) decision-makers need to bring forward measures for growing the private sector alongside anticapated proposals to slim the public sector.