A sample survey conducted among construction enterprises revealed that employment, wages and salaries, and hours worked fell by 10.0, 4.8 and 12.6 per cent respectively when compared to the second quarter of 2009.

Annual comparison

Year-on-year data reveal that employment in construction activities fell by 10.0 per cent, mainly on account of declines in employment in the construction of buildings (-11.5 per cent) and specialised construction activities (-9.8 per cent). Furthermore, employment in civil engineering dropped by 1.8 per cent.

During the period under review, wages and salaries declined by 4.8 per cent, mainly as a result of a 4.9 per cent drop in respect of the construction of buildings, and a 7.7 per cent drop in the specialised construction activities. On the other hand, wages and salaries paid in respect of civil engineering rose by 5.2 per cent.

In the second quarter of 2010, hours worked declined by 12.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2009. Hours worked in the construction of buildings and specialised construction activities fell by 17.2 and 10.9 per cent respectively, while hours worked in civil engineering rose by 6.2 per cent.

New permits for residential buildings

During the period under review, new permits for residential buildings declined by 3.6 per cent. Permits covering one dwelling residential buildings rose by 41.7 per cent on account of a general increase in all types of one dwelling residential permits. On the other hand, permits for two and more dwelling residential buildings (made up of apartments) fell by 8.3 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter in 2009.

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