There was a sharp drop in permits for residential properties and a decline in employment and salaries in the construction industry in the last quarter of 2013, official figures issued today show.

The NSO said employment in construction activities declined by 5.0 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2012.
 
In the period under review, hours worked declined by 6.3 per cent over the
corresponding period in 2012. The largest decline (-19.2 per cent) was registered in civil engineering. Furthermore, hours worked in specialised construction activities and in the construction of buildings contracted by 5.8 and 3.3 per cent respectively.
 
A downward trend was observed in wages and salaries, where a drop of 4.4
per cent was registered. The most notable decline was registered in civil engineering (-14.6 per cent). Wages and salaries contracted by 2.9 per cent in both the construction of buildings and in specialised construction activities.
 
Residential permit data  for the period under review decreased by 25.3 per cent.
Permits for one-dwelling residential buildings dropped by 6.9 per cent while permits for two and more dwelling residential units decreased by 30.2 per cent, the NSO said.