A sample survey carried out among construction enterprises showed that employment went down by 4.1 per cent, wages and salaries increased by 0.4 per cent and hours worked declined by 4.0 per cent when compared to the fourth quarter last year.

Year-on-year data reveal that employment in construction activities went down by 4.1 per cent, on account of declines in employment in the construction of buildings and in specialised construction activities of 3.0 and 8.3 per cent respectively. On the other hand, employment in civil engineering increased by 15.3 per cent.

During the period under review, wages and salaries edged up by 0.4 per cent, resulting from increases of 0.8 and 18.1 per cent in wages and salaries paid in the construction of buildings and in civil engineering respectively.

This increase was partially mitigated by a 4.8 per cent drop in wages and salaries paid in respect of specialised construction activities.

During the fourth quarter, hours worked decreased by 4.0 per cent. Hours worked in the construction of buildings sector remained stable. Civil engineering went up by 17.0 per cent, while a decline of 15.6 per cent in hours worked was registered in specialised construction activities.

Residential units for which new permits have been granted

During the fourth quarter, the number of units for which new permits were granted dropped by 17.6 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

This was reflected in a 23.7 per cent decline in permits for two or more dwelling residential buildings and a decrease of 34.3 per cent in permits for other residental buildings.

On the other hand, new permits for one dwelling buildings increased by 16.4 on account of an increase in maisonettes and terraced houses of 17.1 and 65.7 per cent respectively.

These figures are supplied by the National Statistics Office.

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