5.10
The preliminary estimate of expenditure on building
works (i.e. excluding civil engineering works) in 1982 was only 3% higher in real terms than the provisional estimate for
1981 (5) The number of persons employed on building sites
was, however, roughly 10% less in 1982 than in 1981. This
suggests that labour productivity in this sector may have improved in both 1981 and 1982. Consents to commence work granted to the private sector in 1982 dropped by 24%. This is
reflected in a decline in the demand for output of the
building industry in the first quarter of 1983, even taking public housing projects into account.
(5)
Expenditure
(at constant
(1973) prices)
on building
works
($Mn)
/5.11 Most
Number of
persons*
employed
Growth
on building
Growth
rate
(8)
sites
rate
(8)
1978
3,588
10
49 200
1.5
1979
4,056
2
13
62 250
27
1980
4,976
23
73 700
18
1981
5,298**
6
73 300
-1
1982
5,472***
3
66 210
-10
Note:
(*)
Quarterly average for each year
(**)
Provisional estimate
(***) Preliminary estimate
33