The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released figures that show continued growth of employment in the construction sector in Ireland. With an increase of over 28,300 new employees joining the industry in the past 12 months, the figures clearly demonstrate Irish economy’s reliance on the construction industry.

Construction Industry Federation (CIF) spokesperson Peter Stafford welcomed the figures saying: “These figures from the CSO demonstrate the continued growth of the construction sector in Ireland and the vibrancy of the industry. The CIF is confident in the future of the construction industry and the continued growth in employment demonstrates clearly the capacity of the industry to meet the needs of the economy.”
Throughout the past 12 months a total of over 28,300 new jobs were created in the construction industry and these new jobs are spread right throughout the country across all regions, bringing the total number of people working in construction to over 282,100, which is over an 11.2 per cent increase in the year to the first quarter of 2007.

The number of Irish nationals as a percentage of all workers in the industry stands at over 87 per cent and of the 28,300 new jobs in construction in the past 12 months, 16,800 were taken up by Irish nationals and 11,500 jobs went to workers from outside Ireland