Laura Pardoe Speaks on the Condition of the Construction Industry

Construction returned to pre-covid levels in March, successfully working under distancing restrictions. Since then it’s hard to get a clear overview as shifts brought about by on/off lockdowns have led to a lumpy picture: up (in February and March) and down (in April and May) and, potentially, up again (in June).

March was a high water mark. Since then we’ve struggled to maintain output levels, with the exceptions of infrastructure, growing month on month, and private housing which is showing some recent growth.

RMI held up better through 2020 with essential maintenance being prioritised. It’s growth continued in the first half of the year but an artificial slow down is now possible due to the constraints of materials shortages affecting numerous categories.

Labour and transport shortages are also impacting logistics and output, putting the whole system under strain. Lockdowns may thankfully be over for the time being, but conditions are anything but ‘normal’.

All this points to rising costs which may curtail plans and focus priorities. As we enter Q3, there has never been a more important time to challenge how we work and rethink how we value resources.