Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any assessment her Department has made of productivity in the construction industry, including any steps she is taking to improve it.
Minister for the Economy: Based on recent data and survey evidence my assessment is positive. According to NISRA, output per hour worked (OpHW) in the construction sector was £65.0 in 2023. This compared favourably with an average of £39.9 for the non-financial business economy as a whole. Between 2018 and 2023, annual average growth in OpHW in the construction sector was 13.3%, more than twice the rate of growth for the non-financial business economy as a whole (5.9%).
The recently published UK Innovation Survey 2025 finds that innovation activity in the north, which is a key driver of productivity, was higher among enterprises in Production and Construction industries than in Distribution and Service industries during 2022-2024 (43% compared to 26%).
While this is a strong performance, I recognise that we must continue to provide support to our sectors to grow their productivity further, including in construction, through investment in skills, innovation, digital adoption, sustainability and business improvement programmes. Support is delivered through a range of initiatives, including those offered by Invest NI and the wider skills system, with the aim of helping businesses enhance efficiency, competitiveness and long-term productivity.
ENDS
