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Figures from the FMB's State of Trade Survey, the only survey of SMEs in the construction industry, for the last three months of 2009 reveal that 44% of FMB firms expect their workloads to decline in the first three months of 2010.
Only 18% of FMB firms expect their workloads to increase in the final quarter of 2009 also revealed a major decline in workloads and employment for FMB firms and, based on this outlook, 2010 looks sets to begin with a ninth consecutive quarter of deterioration.
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Richard Diment, Director-General of the FMB said: "The employment figures from our members' survey are particularly alarming as, even after seven consecutive quarters of layoffs, 38% of FMB firms reported that they had cut staffing levels. Even more alarming is the fact that 33% of FMB firms expect to have to make staff cuts in the first three months of this year."
Mr Diment warned: "Despite the urgent need to cut the public expenditure deficit, investment in the construction sector offers the best hope of propelling this country back into recovery because every £1 spent on construction output generates a total of £2.84 in total economic activity. Any cuts in construction would merely cripple an already badly damaged skills base and supply chain and seriously inhibit the building industry's recovery."
(CD/GK)
