Civil Engineering Jobs Bucking Trends in Construction Sector

There was some good jobs news for the construction sector this week with the news that activity in the industry rose for the second successive month. The Independent reported ‘tentative signs of a recovery in Britain's struggling construction sector’ with civil engineering jobs leading the way.

Increase in engineering jobs activity

The newspaper reports that ‘there was a marked increase in activity in February according to the latest construction purchasing managers' index from Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS).’
The index rose from 53.7 in January to 56.5 in February as the construction sector reported higher levels of activity. The pace of growth was at an eight month high, with civil engineering jobs and activity rising at its fastest rate in three years. In addition, both residential and commercial construction activity has also expanded.

Positive engineering jobs growth forecast in first quarter of 2011

Sarah Ledger, an economist with Markit, said the data augured well for the official measure of activity, compiled by the Office for National Statistics. She said: "The latest figures therefore suggest that, having contracted by 2.5 per cent in the final quarter of last year, the ONS measure of construction output should bounce back into positive territory in the first quarter."

However, whilst activity seems to be growing quickly, the rising price of key raw materials could well continue to stunt growth. Input costs for construction companies rose at their fastest rate in more than two years.

Ms Ledger added: "Concerns about rising costs and fears over cuts in public spending meant future business optimism remained subdued and well below the long run average.”