Scottish construction industry achieves record output

Latest figures reveal the Scottish construction industry registered record output in the 12 months to June.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found output  for the Scottish construction industry increased by 20% over the 12-month period, taking the industry’s total output value to more than £13Bn.

Output rose across all sectors of the industry including a 60% rise in the value of infrastructure and a 29% increase in public sector new work other than housing and infrastructure.

Scottish Building Federation managing director Vaughan Hart welcomed the results but warned that employment and the skills shortage remain an industry concern. He said: “It is obviously good news that output from the Scottish construction sector has hit a new high over the past year.

“However, as we have pointed out before, employment within the industry remains a long way below pre-recession levels and the industry is facing increasingly critical skills shortages across many trades.

“Our members also continue to advise us that operating margins remain extremely tight.

“Against the backdrop of these record output figures, our absolute priority must be to attract more people back into the industry, to rebuild skills and capacity and put the industry’s recovery on a sustainable long-term footing.”

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