Mar 5 2007
The total volume of construction output in 2006 rose by one per cent compared to 2005. Overall new work rose over the same period, despite decreases in the infrastructure and public non-housing sectors. Repair and maintenance fell, with decreases in nearly all sectors. Output in the fourth quarter of 2006 rose by one per cent compared to the third quarter in volume terms and by 2 per cent in current prices.
The total volume of new work in 2006 was five per cent higher compared with the previous year and rose by one per cent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter. The total volume of repair and maintenance work fell by three per cent in 2006 compared with the previous year, but was one per cent higher in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the previous quarter.
New private housing work in 2006 was two per cent higher compared with the previous year but the fourth quarter of 2006 was unchanged compared to the previous quarter. New work in the public housing sector in 2006 was 23 per cent higher (on a small base figure) compared with the previous year but the latest quarter was seven per cent lower than the previous quarter. New infrastructure output in 2006 was six per cent lower compared with the previous year, and the fourth quarter of 2006 fell by seven per cent compared with the previous quarter.
New construction work in the private industrial sector in 2006 was 11 per cent higher compared with the previous year, and rose by nine per cent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter. New private commercial output in 2006 was 13 per cent higher compared to the previous year and was four per cent higher in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the previous quarter. New work in the public non-housing sector (excluding infrastructure) in 2006 fell by four per cent compared to the previous year but was unchanged compared with the previous quarter.
Housing repair and maintenance work (including improvement work) in the public sector was three per cent lower in 2006 compared with the previous year and was five per cent lower in the most recent quarter compared with previous quarter. Housing repair and maintenance work in the private sector in 2006 was three per cent lower compared with the previous year but rose by three per cent in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter.
Repair and maintenance work in the public non-housing sector in 2006 was seven per cent lower compared with the previous year, and was eight per cent lower in the most recent quarter compared with the previous quarter. Repair and maintenance work in the private non-housing sector in 2006 was unchanged compared with the previous year but was seven per cent higher in the most recent quarter compared with the previous quarter.
The seasonally adjusted number of employees in employment in January 2007 was three per cent lower compared with October 2006 and was one per cent lower when compared with January 2006. Total employment (including the self-employed) in January 2007 fell by two per cent compared with October 2006, and fell by one per cent when compared with the same period a year earlier.