Ireland’s construction sector struggles with scale and productivity

Ireland’s construction sector struggles with scale and productivity

Fewer than 10% of Irish construction workers are employed by large firms with 250+ employees, compared with a 15% average in other high-income European countries. This contributes to Ireland’s construction productivity lagging 30% behind the European average.

The sector faces a shortfall of roughly 80,000 workers, particularly in housing, and inward migration or transfers from other sectors are unlikely to close the gap. Small and medium-sized firms dominate, often lacking the scale or technology to adopt modern construction techniques, while land constraints in urban areas limit project size and discourage larger developers.

With workforce numbers still below the 2006 peak of 237,000, scaling operations and boosting productivity remain critical challenges for Ireland’s construction industry.

Full article here for insight into strategies to enhance productivity and workforce efficiency.