Northern Ireland Quarterly Construction Bulletin Quarter 2 2026
Introduction
The Construction Output Statistics published in this bulletin and the accompanying tables provide a general measure of the quarterly and annual changes in the volume and value of construction output in Northern Ireland for Quarter 2 2026 (April to June).
Output estimates are calculated from the Quarterly Construction Enquiry (QCE) aspect of the Quarterly Business Survey (QBS). They exclude work carried out by Northern Ireland Construction firms in other parts of the UK or elsewhere. All figures are adjusted for seasonality where a seasonal variation has been found to exist.
Estimates of construction output are converted into indices which are a convenient way of expressing time series, making it easier to see changes in the series. Each series is expressed in relative terms, with the average turnover in 2023 set as the base value of 100. All other turnover values are then measured in relation to this base.
Key Points
- In Quarter 2 2026 the total volume of construction output decreased by 1.7% over the quarter, increased by 3.5% over the year and increased by 3.6% on a rolling four quarters basis1.
- In Quarter 2 2026, a quarterly decrease was seen in New Work (5.1%) while there was an increase in Repair & Maintenance (6.7%).
- In Quarter 2 2026, there were decreases in the Housing (1.9%) and Other Work (0.5%) subsectors. However, the Infrastructure subsector increased by 6.3%, compared to the previous quarter.
1 Rolling four quarters compares the total for the latest four quarters with the total for the previous four quarters.
Figure 1:
Changes in construction output by sector, Q2 2026
Overall Construction
Expand for definition of construction activity
Construction activity includes general construction and demolition work, construction and repair of buildings, civil engineering, installation of fixtures and fittings and any other building completion work.
In the second quarter of 2026, the volume of construction output:
Figure 2: Volume of construction output in NI (index), Q2 2011 to Q2 2026
The volume of construction output has experienced a general upward trend from Quarter 3 2022, reaching a 15 year high in Quarter 4 2025. Despite two consecutive declines in the first half of 2026, the series remains high.
In the second quarter of 2026, construction output was 73.4% above the series low seen in Quarter 2 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) and 17.5% above the pre-pandemic level (Quarter 4 2019).
New Work
Expand for definition of New Work
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 2026, the volume of New Work output:
Figure 3: Volume of New Work output in NI (index), Q2 2011 to Q2 2026
Aside from the decline and subsequent recovery in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), the volume of New Work output experienced a relatively stable trend between Quarter 4 2016 and Quarter 1 2025. This was followed by three quarters of growth from Quarter 2 2025 to Quarter 4 2025. While the first half of 2026 has seen two consecutive periods of decline, the series remains historically high, having reached a 15 year high in Quarter 4 2025.
Repair and Maintenance
Expand for definition of Repair and Maintenance
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 2026, the volume of Repair and Maintenance output:
Figure 4: Volume of Repair and Maintenance output in NI (index), Q2 2011 to Q2 2026
Following the series high in Quarter 3 2024, the volume of Repair and Maintenance output experienced a period of decline from Quarter 3 2024 to Quarter 3 2025. The series has since seen an overall upward trend emerging, with increases in Quarter 4 2025 and Quarter 2 2026.
In the second quarter of 2026, Repair and Maintenance was 4.3% below the series high seen in Quarter 3 2024.
Housing
Expand for definition of Housing
Housing output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity associated with Housing. This covers both New Work and Repair & Maintenance.
In the second quarter of 2026, the volume of Housing output:
Figure 5: Volume of Housing output in NI (index), Q2 2011 to Q2 2026
The volume of Housing output has experienced an upward trend from Quarter 4 2023, reaching a 15 year high in Quarter 1 2026. Despite the decline seen in the second quarter of 2026, Housing construction output remains high and is currently nearly double (1.95 times) the series low seen in Quarter 2 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic).
Infrastructure
Expand for definition of Infrastructure
Infrastructure output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity associated with roads, bridges, car parks, footpaths, water, sewage, electricity, gas, communications, air transport, railways, harbours and waterways. This covers both New Work and Repair & Maintenance.
In the second quarter of 2026, the volume of Infrastructure output:
Figure 6: Volume of Infrastructure output in NI (index), Q2 2011 to Q2 2026
The volume of Infrastructure output has experienced a period of volatility from Quarter 1 2024 onwards. In the second quarter of 2026, Infrastructure construction output increased to 5.9% below the series high (Quarter 2 2024) and is now 66.0% above the 15 year low seen in Quarter 3 2014.
Other Work
Expand for definition of Other Work
Other Work Output is defined as all public and private sector construction activity associated with the following: Industrial, for example, factories and warehouses, and Non-industrial, for example, schools, health centres and banks. This covers both New Work and Repair & Maintenance.
In the second quarter of 2026, the volume of Other Work output:
Figure 7: Volume of Other Work output in NI (index), Q2 2011 to Q2 2026
The volume of Other Work output has experienced an overall upward trend since Quarter 3 2021 but has shown greater volatility in recent quarters. Since the 15 year high in Quarter 4 2025, Other Work construction output has experienced two periods of decline but remains high overall.
In the second quarter of 2026, Other Work is 70.1% above the series low seen in Quarter 2 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic).
Accredited Official Statistics
Accredited official statistics are official statistics that have been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) and confirmed to comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for 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.
These accredited official statistics were independently reviewed by the OSR in March 2012 in the Assessment of Statistics on Output in the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland, with accreditation confirmed in January 2013. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice and should be labelled ‘accredited official statistics’.
Our statistical practice is regulated by OSR. It sets 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
Northern Ireland Construction tables
Data published within this bulletin is available to download from the Construction Output Statistics webpage or the NISRA Data Portal. A complete timeseries from Quarter 1 2000 to the current quarter is available in the Northern Ireland Construction tables.
These tables include timeseries data for Housing, Infrastructure and Other Work construction output split by New Work and Repair & Maintenance, as well as the equivalent timeseries for the value of construction output. Information on the value of New Work carried out for the public sector and the value of construction output, by size of firm, for private contractors is also included.
Methodology and quality
Detailed background information documents, as well as quality and methodology information, are published on the Construction Output Statistics Methodology webpage. This includes information on revisions to the series.
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
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BT9 5RR
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