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02/09/2002
FMB figures show rise in construction activity
New data from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) suggests that activity in the province's construction industry continued to rise over the second quarter of 2002.
The figures, issued in the FMB's quarterly 'State of Trade Survey', cover the period April to June and paint a positive picture of the construction sector's health during the three-month period.
Overall, new build and repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) work in the private housing sector remain the strongest growth areas, and 98% of the builders surveyed in Northern Ireland said that their workload had remained constant during the second quarter of 2002.
However, there has been a negative change in the levels of work that builders in the region are doing, with more builders reporting a drop in workload than those reporting an increase over the three months, a swing that is in some part due to the shortage of labour that continues to affect the industry in the UK as a whole.
Despite the mixed figures in terms of workload, the majority of the region’s builders remain optimistic for the remainder of 2002, with 34% anticipating a greater workload in the third quarter. A further 62% expect to maintain current work levels, whilst only 4% anticipate a downturn in business. The main areas where future growth is expected are private housing new build and RMI work and in the non-residential sector, commercial work, public new build and public and private repair and maintenance work.
Looking ahead, the region’s builders remain positive, with 26% expecting to employ more people and take on more work over the coming months, whilst the remaining 74% expect to maintain their current workforce size.
Commenting on the latest figures, FMB Regional Director, Howard Locke said: “Compared to many other sectors, construction in Northern Ireland is enjoying a period of relative growth which looks set to continue at least until the end of this year. Against this positive backdrop, recruiting labour remains a serious issue for the region’s builders, as it is limiting the amount of work that they can actually take on.
"This, along with the additional problems of being undercut by rogue traders and ‘cash in hand’ operators and increases in bureaucracy that changes in legislation threaten are the biggest challenges to their businesses at the moment.“
(CL)
The figures, issued in the FMB's quarterly 'State of Trade Survey', cover the period April to June and paint a positive picture of the construction sector's health during the three-month period.
Overall, new build and repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) work in the private housing sector remain the strongest growth areas, and 98% of the builders surveyed in Northern Ireland said that their workload had remained constant during the second quarter of 2002.
However, there has been a negative change in the levels of work that builders in the region are doing, with more builders reporting a drop in workload than those reporting an increase over the three months, a swing that is in some part due to the shortage of labour that continues to affect the industry in the UK as a whole.
Despite the mixed figures in terms of workload, the majority of the region’s builders remain optimistic for the remainder of 2002, with 34% anticipating a greater workload in the third quarter. A further 62% expect to maintain current work levels, whilst only 4% anticipate a downturn in business. The main areas where future growth is expected are private housing new build and RMI work and in the non-residential sector, commercial work, public new build and public and private repair and maintenance work.
Looking ahead, the region’s builders remain positive, with 26% expecting to employ more people and take on more work over the coming months, whilst the remaining 74% expect to maintain their current workforce size.
Commenting on the latest figures, FMB Regional Director, Howard Locke said: “Compared to many other sectors, construction in Northern Ireland is enjoying a period of relative growth which looks set to continue at least until the end of this year. Against this positive backdrop, recruiting labour remains a serious issue for the region’s builders, as it is limiting the amount of work that they can actually take on.
"This, along with the additional problems of being undercut by rogue traders and ‘cash in hand’ operators and increases in bureaucracy that changes in legislation threaten are the biggest challenges to their businesses at the moment.“
(CL)
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