NI building sector enjoys continued growth

Figures published by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its first quarterly 'State of Trade' report for 2002 has found clear indications that the building sector in the UK enjoyed sustained growth, exceeding industry expectations expressed in the last quarter of 2001.

Almost half of the 425 firms surveyed across the UK reported an increase in business in the first three months of 2002.

In addition, homeowners are continuing to spend more on refurbishment, maintenance and improvement, with a third of firms throughout the UK reporting an increase in work in this area for the first quarter of 2002 compared to the last three months of 2001.

Northern Ireland posted some encouraging figures for the first three months of 2002, with 36% of the FMB members polled reporting an increase in business and 78% expecting their workload to remain constant or increase in the coming quarter.

The majority of new work across the UK building industry expected to come from the private housing, commercial and new, non-residential sectors. While 13% of Northern Irish firms reported an increase in the level of new business enquiries on the last quarter of 2001, mainly in the private housing sector, the majority of respondents (67%) reported that the level of new business enquiries had remained constant, an optimistic sign.

The lack of skilled labour in the market continues to pose problems for builders in the region.

Only 4% of builders in Northern Ireland reported that they had increased their workforce in the last quarter and just over half (51%) reported that their workforce had actually decreased during the same period.

On a more positive note none of the respondents expect their workforce to shrink in the next quarter. The survey found that 45% of respondents believed they will increase the number of employees and 56% expect to keep their workforce at the current level.

The ongoing problem of a shortage of skilled labour available has continued to have a limiting effect on growth in the building sector and partially accounts for the lack of growth in workforce compared to the growth in workload as well as putting builders under increased pressure.

(MB)