Northern Ireland Quarterly Construction Bulletin Quarter 4 2025
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 4 2025 (October to December). 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 4 2025 the total volume of construction output increased by 7.5% over the quarter, 6.2% over the year and 2.0% on a rolling four quarters basis.
- In Quarter 4 2025, quarterly increases were seen in both New Work (5.3%) and Repair and Maintenance (9.6%).
- In Quarter 4 2025, there were increases in the Infrastructure (8.7%) and Other Work (19.3%) subsectors. However, the Housing subsector decreased by 4.6%, compared to the previous quarter
Figure 1:
Changes in Construction Output by Sector, Q4 2025
Overall Construction
Expand for definition of construction activity
Construction activity measured by the Quarterly Construction Enquiry (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.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the volume of construction output:
Figure 2: Volume of Construction Output in NI (index), Q4 2010 to Q4 2025
The volume of construction output has experienced a general upward trend from Quarter 3 2022 , reaching a 15 year peak in Quarter 4 2025. This new high was driven by increases in both the New Work and the Repair and Maintenance sectors.
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 fourth quarter of 2025, the volume of New Work output:
Figure 3: Volume of New Work Output in NI (index), Q4 2010 to Q4 2025
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 from Quarter 4 2016 to Quarter 4 2024. Following a quarter of decline at the start of 2025, the series has seen three consecutive quarters of growth, reaching a 15 year high in the fourth quarter of 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 fourth quarter of 2025, the volume of Repair and Maintenance output:
Figure 4: Volume of Repair and Maintenance in NI (index), Q4 2010 to Q4 2025
Repair and Maintenance experienced an upward trend from Quarter 2 2022 onwards, reaching a series high in the third quarter of 2024. Despite the period of decline from Quarter 3 2024 to Quarter 3 2025, the series remaining historically high.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Repair and Maintenance is 97.3% above the 15 year low experienced in Quarter 2 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) and 4.7% 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 (New Work and Repair & Maintenance) associated with Housing.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the volume of Housing output:
Figure 5: Volume of Housing Output in NI (index), Q4 2010 to Q4 2025
The volume of Housing output has experienced a recent upward trend from the low seen in Quarter 4 2023. Despite the decline seen in Quarter 4 2025, the series remains high following six consecutive quarters of annual growth and is currently 85.1% above the series low (during the COVID-19 pandemic).
Housing output currently sits 4.6% below the 15 year high reached in Quarter 3 2025.
Infrastructure
Expand for definition of Infrastructure
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 fourth quarter of 2025, the volume of Infrastructure output:
Figure 6: Volume of Infrastructure Output in NI (index), Q4 2010 to Q4 2025
In Quarter 4 2025, the volume of Infrastructure output has reached a new series high following three consecutive quarters of growth. The series is currently 77.8% 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 (New Work and Repair & Maintenance) associated with the following: Industrial, for example, factories and warehouses or Non-industrial, for example, schools, health centres and banks.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the volume of Other Work output:
Figure 7: Volume of Other Work Output in NI (index), Q4 2010 to Q4 2025
Aside from a brief decline in the first three quarters of 2025, there has been a general upward trend in the volume of Other Work from Quarter 3 2021 onwards, reaching a 15 year high in Quarter 4 2025
In the fourth quarter of 2025, Other Work is 83.1% 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
Data published within this bulletin is available to download from the Construction Output Statistics webpage or the NISRA Data Portal.
Detailed background information documents and methodology information have also been 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
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Email: info@nisra.gov.uk
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