In the latest report on construction activity, the sector faced its fourth consecutive monthly contraction in output.
The Construction Total Activity Index, adjusted for seasonal variations, indicated a solid pace of decline, faster than that observed in September but less severe than the contractions experienced over the summer.
A survey involving 150 construction firms revealed a general slowdown in market conditions, with rising input prices contributing to a marked increase in overall expenses for October. BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland's Director and Head of Research, John McCartney, attributed the residential activity slowdown to a rise in completions outpacing commencements.
However, he highlighted the surprising expansion in commercial activity, pointing to delayed Dublin office space projects.
While the medium-term outlook for residential construction looks promising, the commercial sector faces a downturn in speculative office starts.
Despite the overall contraction in the construction index, the commercial index returned to marginal growth in October, ending a three-month decline.
Employment in the sector continued to grow, with optimism for the future tempered by concerns about a potentially weaker economic climate impacting construction activity.
The State Housing Agency's recent figures for August showed a positive trend, with construction beginning on 2,770 homes, the highest number in August in the past five years.
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
Ireland must rapidly upskill and expand its construction workforce over the next decade to meet critical housing and climate goals, warns a new report by the Technological University of the Shannon.
The study projects that 284,000 additional and reskilled construction workers will be required by 2030. This includes 120,000 new hires and 164,000 existing workers needing retraining. An added 26,000 third-level engineering and construction students must also gain new skills.
The research highlights worrying gaps as enrollment in construction courses, though growing, remains low. Apprenticeships are also decreasing, with shortages of plumbers and carpenters especially acute.
Engineers are also urgently needed, with estimates showing a 30-40% deficit in electrical, structural, civil and energy engineering roles, as well as quantity surveyors.
Achieving Ireland's housing and emissions targets will require better utilization of current buildings, high-quality renovations, and innovative construction techniques, the report emphasizes.
Upskilling the existing workforce and attracting new talent into construction careers is deemed critical to deliver progress on these pressing national priorities.
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
The latest Morgan McKinley Quarterly Employment Monitor has revealed that the Construction sector faced a shortage of new graduates and professionals at junior levels between July and September 2023.
The report also found that senior roles in maintenance engineering and reliability saw growing demand in line with the expansion of facilities around the country.
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
Practical Approaches to Remanufacturing & Circular Economy in Construction takes place on Wednesday, October 11 · 9:30am - 1pm at Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, 1A Naas Road D22 X5N7 Newlands Cross.
Together, building and construction are responsible for approx. 39% of global greenhouse gas emissions and the adoption of approaches to reduce this level are urgently required. Construction and demolition waste is the largest waste stream produced in Ireland and represents one third of all waste produced within the European Union.
This workshop introduces practical approaches to enhancing sustainability within the construction sector, with a particular focus on remanufacturing. Included in the overview, will be an introduction to the broad sustainability issues facing manufacturers of construction products. These include the gradual increase in Irish carbon charges per ton of CO2 emitted, from €48.5 currently, to €100 / ton in 2030. The impact of a number of European directives which impact on manufacturers will also be discussed, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as well as the Critical Raw Materials Act.
Amongst the speakers will be David Peck from TU Delft who heads up a European Institution for Innovation and Technology (EIT) project on remanufacturing. The overall aim of this workshop is to enhance the awareness of sustainability issues facing manufacturers within the construction sector, as well as to provide practical advice and support to address these issues.
9:30 AM - 9:40 AM
Workshop introduction
Jamie Goggins, Director, Construct Innovate
9:40 AM - 10:00 AM
Introduction to the sustainable manufacturing and remanufacturing construction
Denis Dowling, Director, I-Form
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Circularity & remanufacturing in buildings & infrastructure-what did we learn?
Janet Lynch, Circular Economy Lead, Arup Europe
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM
Planet Passionate: A circular approach to construction
Karl Crowley, Analytical Manager, Kingspan Group
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM
Our journey towards carbon neutral and zero avoidable waste
Sarah-Jane Pisciotti, Innovation & Design Director, SISK
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Coffee Break
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Remanufacturing introduction and impact
David Peck, Associate Professor, TU Delft
11:45 AM - 12:10 PM
Round Table Discussion
12:10 PM - 12:30 PM
Panel Discussion / Wrap Up
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
Have you considered a career in Construction? Did you know that there are over 170,000 working in the building & construction industry in Ireland and over 10% are working in Cork? Are you interested in learning more about the Construction Site Ready Course run by Cork College of FET-Bishopstown Campus.
This 1 week programme aims to provide learners with a knowledge and competence to work as a general operative within the construction and building sector.
Do you want to learn more about the course content and to book your course place?
Join on Tuesday 31st October 2023 at Intreo Office, Abbey Court House, Cork City to meet the team from the Cork Education and Training Board based in Bishopstown Campus to learn about the skills you will gain and the certification you will achieve by participating on this one week course.
Complete this course to be "job ready" for this busy and expanding employment sector.
This course will commence in early November.
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
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The Irish Construction Excellence Awards (ICE Awards) has announced its annual call for entries. The Irish Construction Excellence Awards (ICE Awards) are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for the contracting sector in Ireland.
The ICE Awards provide an opportunity for the industry to showcase and reward best practices across the full range of construction disciplines, architectural and engineering design and project categories.
Entry to the ICE Awards is open to: Building Contractors, Construction Management Services Companies, Civil Engineering Contractors, Specialist M&E Contractors, Specialist Contractors, Design Consultants, and Construction Product Manufacturers/Suppliers.
Entry Submission Deadline is Friday 30 November 2023 (5 pm GMT)
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
IRELAND'S CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING SECTORS' UPCOMING
JOBS & RECRUITMENT EVENT
RETURNS TO THE RDS IN 2024
DATE
Saturday, 18th May, 2024
LOCATION
Serpentine Hall Hall, RDS, Dublin
EXHIBITORS
20+ Companies
SEMINARS
Full Day Of Industry Talks
REGISTER
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has released its Budget 2024 submission, which insists that sustained government investment and progressive tax and workforce policies are needed to enable the construction industry to deliver on Ireland's ambitious development targets.
Key points from the CIF Pre-Budget submission:
Read the Construction Industry Federation’s Budget 2024 submission.
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
New data reveals Ireland's construction sector slowed considerably in August, posting the weakest activity levels this year. The decline was driven by plunging commercial construction.
The latest Construction PMI dropped to 44.9 in August, well below the 50 mark indicating contraction. The reading was even lower than August 2021's 46.9, highlighting reversed momentum.
Construction PMI stands for Purchasing Managers' Index for the construction sector. It is a key monthly economic indicator that provides insights into the performance and health of the construction industry.
Commercial building showed the steepest fall after consistent expansion in early 2022. This slowdown may benefit the market however, curbing risks of oversupply and rising vacancy rates.
The residential construction slowdown also continued, with activity still below 2021 levels and remaining in decline.
While the downturn deepens, input cost inflation has reaccelerated after two years of relief, squeezing already thin margins. This suggests recent energy price hikes are now impacting the industry.
On a positive note, most Irish construction firms remain optimistic, hiring more staff for the eighth straight month. But with project delays likely amidst the downturn, resilience will be tested.
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland is hosting a webinar World Green Building Week: Introduction to Low Carbon Building Materials and MMC on Tues, 12th Sept, 1-2pm.
The SCSI is supporting World Green Building Week from the 11th – 15th September with an online series of Sustainability focussed cpd’s. The second event in the series will look at Introduction to Low Carbon Building Materials and MMC.
Low carbon building materials and MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) are two key ways to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. This one hour CPD will introduce you to these two topics and discuss their benefits and challenges.
Looking to pursue a career in the construction industry? Browse through our diverse range of courses below. Whether you're eager to become an Engineer, Estimator or Electrician, there's plenty of study options for the sector on Courses.ie.
