{"id":531140,"date":"2025-11-19T11:25:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T11:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=531140"},"modified":"2025-11-19T11:25:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T11:25:29","slug":"data-dig-healthier-market-hiring-issues-and-a-spending-shortfall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/sections\/long-reads\/features\/data-dig-healthier-market-hiring-issues-and-a-spending-shortfall-19-11-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Data dig: Healthier market, hiring issues and a spending shortfall"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

45.5<\/h3>\n

Construction\u2019s activity rating for August in the latest monthly Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index from S&P Global \u2013 any reading below 50 indicates a contraction. Huda As\u2019ad, Accenture\u2019s infrastructure and capital projects lead in the UK and Ireland, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe construction sector has been hit by persistent cost pressures and ongoing operational challenges, with housing and civil engineering particularly hard hit. While recent government initiatives are shaping a stronger long-term framework, it will take time for benefits to filter through.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

HEALTHIER MARKET<\/h3>\n

The builders merchant sector is perking up with Q2 sales up and prices down year on year, data from the Builders
\nMerchant Building Index shows.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

HIRING PROBLEMS<\/h3>\n

Skills shortages continue to plague construction SMEs, with carpentry and roofing experiencing the worst difficulties, a survey by the Federation of Master Builders and Chartered Institute of Building has found.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

IN DEMAND<\/h3>\n

Senior project managers can command a higher salary than any other construction specialism, analysis of job market data by CV-Library has shown.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

7,400<\/strong>
\nThe number of new
\nhomes required annually in Wales to address historic and future needs, according to the Home Builders Federation<\/p>\n

257%<\/strong>
\nThe pre-tax profit increase posted by Northern Irish fit-out firm Portview in its latest annual accounts. Profit hit \u00a328.6m, up from \u00a38m the year before<\/p>\n

41<\/strong>
\nThe number of firms winning work on a
\n\u00a3200m university refurbishment framework from the North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium<\/p>\n

\u00a371m<\/strong>
\nThe value of Graham\u2019s civils contract at Liverpool Waters\u2019 Central Dock, where it will complete underground utilities, roads and public realm works<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SPENDING SHORTFALL<\/h3>\n

The New Hospital Programme spent less than half its allocated funding in the latest financial year, government data has revealed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

45.5 Construction\u2019s activity rating for August in the latest monthly Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index from S&P Global \u2013 any reading below 50 indicates a contraction. Huda As\u2019ad, Accenture\u2019s infrastructure and capital projects lead in the UK and Ireland, said: \u201cThe construction sector has been hit by persistent cost pressures and ongoing operational challenges, with housing and …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84999,"featured_media":484445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78193,79553,559],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-531140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data","category-features","category-long-reads"],"yoast_head":"\nData dig: Healthier market, hiring issues and a spending shortfall | Construction News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"45.5 Construction\u2019s activity rating for August in the latest monthly Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index from S&P Global \u2013 any reading below 50 indicates a\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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