Construction jobs down 3.6% over last quarter 2011

A sample survey carried out among construction enterprises showed that employment decreased by 3.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012 when compared to the corresponding period in 2011.

Year-on-year data indicate that overall employment in construction activities went down by 3.6 per cent. Employment in the construction of buildings, civil engineering and in specialized construction activities decreased by 2.4, 0.4 and 5.3 per cent respectively.

Construction hours adjusted for working days went down by 5.8 per cent. This drop was reflected in all sectors. Hours worked in the construction of buildings, civil engineering and in specialised construction activities decreased by 2.8, 4.0 and 10.7 per cent respectively.

During the period under review, working-day adjusted wages and salaries decreased by 2.9 per cent. Wages and salaries paid in the construction of buildings and in civil engineering dropped by 6.2 and 7.1 per cent respectively but rose by 1.8 per cent in specialized construction activities.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, seasonally adjusted employment decreased by 2.4 per cent over the preceding quarter. Gross wages increased by 1.3 per cent, whereas hours worked remained stable.

New Dwelling permits

Seasonally adjusted data for new dwelling permits increased by 5.2 per cent between the third and fourth quarters of 2012. This was reflected in an increase of 7.3 and 21.3 per cent in permits for one-dwelling residential buildings and for two and more dwelling residential buildings (apartments) respectively.