The vast majority of organisations in construction, more than 94 per cent, employ less than 10 people. These small businesses are expected to continue to predominate the market, just as small businesses do in the member states of the European Union. Hungarian construction enterprises can already compete with Western European businesses in terms of quality requirements and professional standards. All in all, they are capable of adjusting to the integrated EU market. 1997 witnessed a moderate rise in construction output, by an estimated 8-10 per cent.
Housing is a significant segment of the construction market.
Housing construction declined early in the 1990s and began to rise again beginning in 1994. In 1993-1994, a total of 21,000 new housing units were built each year. In 1996, the growth rate reached 14 per cent. The number of housing units built in 1997 was roughly the same as that built in 1996. Another significant segment of the construction market is the building materials industry, which provides the fundamental raw materials and product base for construction.