Orders for new work remained unchanged but fell by 1 per cent compared with the first quarter of 1999. New work output is expected to increase, but below its long term annual growth rate. Office developments and PFI health and education schemes will be key growth areas, the survey predicts. The buoyant private housing sector will continue to boost workloads. The shortage of skilled labour, which was so acute last year, eased a little.
Carpenters remain at a premium.
With orders failing in 1999 and again in the first quarter of 2000, some contractors are vying to ensure future workloads in the belief that the recent fall-off in orders predicts a more serious downturn a year or so hence.