Quantity surveying jobs have been under pressure along with employment in many other sectors. The recession has hit many families across the UK and with the country still officially in recession, any good news is very welcome. However, there may well be a chink of light at the end of the tunnel for companies and workers in the construction industry.

Figures released in October showed that construction projects starting on site over the past three months had stabilised at just four per cent below levels a year ago. On the face of it this doesn?t seem to be particularly encouraging news, but as with all statistics it is worth delving a little deeper.

The numbers released by business information service Glenigan reveal this is a marked improvement compared to the 21 per cent average year on year decline between September 2008 and July 2009. It shows the ship appears to have steadied and hopefully the tide is turning for those currently unemployed and looking for construction, building and quantity surveying jobs

Improvements for the construction industry have been largely due to increases in public sector building and civil engineering projects, particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is widely believed that private sector projects will also pick up over the coming months to give the industry a much needed boost.

The private sector will have an important role to play over the next few years if as some predict, the British Government are forced to make cuts in spending before and after the next election. Analysts believe a gradual recovery will also occur in residential projects due to the recent stabilisation in project starts, with an increase in available quantity surveying jobs.