The number of people working in the building industry at the end of March fell by 3.1 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office.
Employment in the construction industry has declined steadily since August last year. March was the seventh straight month in which the year-on-year figure for employment declined.
Employment decreased by 2.8 per cent in the twelve months between February 2001 and February 2002.
The figures compiled by the CSO are derived from a monthly sample of nearly 1,000 private building and construction firms each of which employ more than 5 people.