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Introduction
The Construction Output Statistics published in the Northern Ireland (NI) Construction Bulletin are intended to provide a general measure of quarterly and annual changes in the volume and value of construction output in Northern Ireland.
The latest estimates of construction output carried out in Northern Ireland cover Quarter 3 2025 (July - September). It excludes work carried out by Northern Ireland Construction firms in other parts of the UK or elsewhere. All figures are adjusted for seasonality where appropriate, where the seasonally adjusted series started in 2000.
Key Points
- In Quarter 3 2025 the total volume of construction output increased by 3.4% over the quarter, decreased by 1.0% over the year and increased by 3.4% on a rolling four quarters basis.
- In Quarter 3 2025, increases were seen in both New Work (4.1%) and Repair and Maintenance (0.8%).
Figure 1:
Changes in construction output by sector
Overall Construction
Expand for construction output definition
Construction activity measured by the QCE includes general construction and demolition work, construction and repair of buildings, civil engineering, installation of fixtures and fittings and any other building completion work. This output is then converted into an index value which is a convenient form of expressing a series in a way that makes it easier to see changes in that series. The numbers in the series are expressed relatively, in this case the average of the turnover in 2023 chosen to be the ‘base’ (expressed as 100) and other turnover values being measured relative to this base.
In the second quarter of 2025, the volume of construction output:
Figure 2: Volume of Construction Output in NI (index), Q3 2010 - Q3 2025
The volume of construction output has experienced a general upward trend from Quarter 3 2022, reaching a 15-year high in Quarter 3 2024. Despite the recent low seen in Quarter 1 2025, the series remains high following two consecutive quarters of growth and is currently 71.6% above the series low seen in Quarter 2 2020.
New Work
Expand for New Work definition
New Work is any new construction activity for example, factory and office extensions, major re-construction, major alterations, site preparation and demolition.
In the second quarter of 2025, the volume of New Work output:
Figure 3: Volume of New Work Output in NI (index), Q3 2010 - Q3 2025
Aside from the decline and subsequent recovery in 2020, the volume of New Work output has experienced a relatively stable trend since Quarter 4 2016. The series has seen an upward trend emerge in the third quarter of 2025, with two consecutive quarters of growth following the recent low seen in Q1 2025.
New Work is currently 8.1% below the 15-year high seen in Quarter 3 2010.
Repair and Maintenance
Expand for Repair and Maintenance definition
Repair and Maintenance is all on-site work not defined as new construction, for example, housing conversions, extensions and improvements.
In the second quarter of 2025, the volume of Repair and Maintenance output:
Figure 4: Volume of Repair and Maintenance Output in NI (index), Q3 2010 - Q3 2025
Repair and Maintenance has experienced an upward trend from Quarter 2 2022 onwards, reaching a series high in the third quarter of 2024. Following three consecutive quarters of decline, Repair and Maintenance has seen its first quarter of growth in Quarter 3 2025.
Repair and Maintenance is 88.8% above the series low experienced in Quarter 2 2020.
Housing
Expand for Housing output definition
Housing Output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity (New Work and Repair & Maintenance) associated with Housing.
In the second quarter of 2025, the volume of Housing output:
Figure 5: Volume of Housing Output in NI (index), Q3 2010 - Q3 2025
While the series shows some volatility, Housing output has been on an upward trend since the recent low in Quarter 4 2023. The series has seen increases in four of the five most recent quarters and has seen the fifth consecutive quarter of annual growth, reaching a 15 year high in Quarter 3 2025.
In Quarter 3 2025, the volume of Housing output is 94.2% above the series low in Quarter 2 2020.
Infrastructure
Expand for Infrastructure output definition
Infrastructure Output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity (New Work and Repair & Maintenance) associated with roads, bridges, car parks, footpaths, water, sewage, electricity, gas, communications, air transport, railways, harbours and waterways
In the second quarter of 2025, the volume of Infrastructure output:
Figure 6: Volume of Infrastructure Output in NI (index), Q3 2010 - Q3 2025
In Quarter 3 2025, the volume of Infrastructure output has seen the second consecutive quarter of growth, after recovering from the recent low seen in Quarter 1 2025. This follows the upward trend seen from Quarter 3 2021 to the series high seen in Quarter 2 2024.
In the third quarter of 2025, Infrastructure is now 5.2% below the series high seen in Quarter 2 2024.
Other Work
Expand for Other Work output definition
Other Work Output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity (New Work and Repair & Maintenance) associated with the following: Industrial, for example, factories and warehouses or else Non-industrial, for example, schools, health centres and banks.
In the second quarter of 2025, the volume of Other Work output:
Figure 7: Volume of Other Work Output in NI (index), Q3 2010 - Q3 2025
The volume of Other Work has seen an upward trend from Quarter 2021 to the 15-year high seen in Quarter 3 2024. However, the series has recently seen a downturn with quarterly decreases in the two most recent quarters.
In the third quarter of 2025, Other Work is 51.7% above the series low experienced in Quarter 2 2020.
Accredited Official Statistics
Accredited official statistics are official statistics that have been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation. These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in August 2010. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.
Producers of accredited official statistics are legally required to ensure they maintain compliance with the Code. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
The full assessment of Quarterly Output in the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland is available on the UK Statistics Authority website.
Since the assessment by the UK Statistics Authority, we have continued to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics, and have made the following improvements:
Removed pre-release access to enhance trustworthiness, with the view to bring the publication date forward.
Transferred data to an improved case management system (Integrated Business Survey System).
Made improvements to the data collection process to standardise with other business surveys and ensure best practice is followed.
Reduced business burden by offering the option of online data returns.
Improved accessibility by amending the format and structure of reports in line with accessibility regulations. .
Consulted users on streamlining the QES statistical bulletin.
Our statistical practice is regulated by OSR. They set the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Further Information
Data published within this bulletin is available to download from our Website and the new NISRA Data Portal.
Detailed background information documents and methodology information have also been published online for users to refer to for more detailed information on the QCE.
We have also published information on revisions to the QCE series which users can access on our website
Contact Details
Published by: Economic and Labour Market Statistics Branch
Lead Statistician: Aryan Towfighi
Email: economicstats@nisra.gov.uk
Accessibility contact
Please contact Dissemination Branch for assistance with accessibility requirements or alternative formats. Contact details are:
Email: info@nisra.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)300 200 7836
Dissemination Branch
NISRA
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
BELFAST
BT9 5RR
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