Job vacancies in the construction sector have continued to decline over the past month, according to the latest assessment by FAS and the ESRI.

Reported vacancies in the sector fell five percentage points to 3%. This is the lowest the vacancy rate has been in this sector since the survey began in May 2002.

Compared to this time last year the vacancy rate in the sector has fallen by seven percentage points.

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Furthermore, construction sector employers' employment outlook declined substantially with the Net Employment Expectations indicator for the sector falling by 11 percentage points to 42%. Construction employers were pessimistic about future employment in the sector this time last year, but this month's Net Employment Expectations indicator suggests that their outlook has deteriorated dramatically since then.

The survey also revealed the most frequently reported 'difficult-to-fill' vacancies in the construction sector were that of quantity surveyors.

(VB/JM)