Jobs, wages and hours worked in the construction sector in the third quarter of this year fell by 8.1, 2.2 and 9.5 per cent respectively when compared to the corresponding period of 2009, the NSO said today.

It said that year-on-year data showed that employment in construction activities fell by 8.1 per cent, mainly on account of a general decline in employment in the construction of buildings (-8.3 per cent), in civil engineering (-5.7 per cent) and in specialised construction activities (-8.3 per cent).

During the period under review, wages and salaries declined by 2.2 per cent, mainly as a result of an 8.7 per cent drop in respect of the civil engineering activities, and a drop of 0.7 per cent in specialised construction activities.

Wages and salaries paid for the construction of buildings went down by 1.2 per cent.

In the third quarter of 2010, hours worked declined by 9.5 per cent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2009.

Hours worked in the construction of buildings, civil engineering and specialised construction activities dropped by 14.4, 4.6 and 3.7 per cent respectively.

New permits for residential buildings during the third quarter of 2010 increased by 4.3 per cent. This was mainly due to an increase of 6.8 per cent for two and more dwelling residential buildings.

Permits for one dwelling residential buildings fell by 7.1 per cent. This, the NSO said, reflected a decline of 18.0 per cent in new permits for the construction of maisonettes.

On the other hand, new permits for the construction of terraced houses and other residential buildings rose by 1.7 and 18.5 per cent respectively