SCOTTISH construction employment had risen to 181,000 by the end of 2016, its highest level since December 2013, official figures show.
Employment in the sector in December was up 12,000, or seven per cent, on a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Scottish Building Federation, while citing “so much uncertainty over future economic prospects”, voiced hopes employment would continue to rise in 2017.
Managing director Vaughan Hart said: “Although positive news for the industry, it remains the case that, during 2016, every £1 million of industry output supported 12 Scottish construction jobs. In 2007, every £1m of Scottish construction output supported 21 jobs in the sector. This reflects a shift over time in the profile of industry output, away from housing and private commercial activity and towards major infrastructure projects, which provide comparatively fewer employment opportunities.”
But he noted strengthening housing and commercial construction, and repair and maintenance activity.
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