Construction output to halve costing 90,000 jobs

THE Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has predicted construction output will fall to just half of its 2007 peak next year, with employment over the period dropping by up to 90,000.

The CIF’s annual conference was yesterday told that at its peak last year, the value of construction was €37bn.

“This year that is going to fall back to €30bn, and if the trend continues it could be in the region of €18-€20bn, essentially a halving of the industry,” said Martin Whelan of the CIF.