EMPLOYMENT IN the construction sector continued to fall in March, slipping 11.7 per cent compared with a year earlier, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office.

This was the largest decline since the Index of Employment in Construction, which covers private firms employing five or more people, began in 1994. The monthly change indicated a drop of 1.5 per cent on February.

Provisional figures show the monthly employment index decreased from 110.1 in March 2007 to 97.2 in March 2008.

This is the 12th consecutive month the rate of employment in the industry has fallen, providing further evidence of a slowdown in construction. The first quarter of the year has been particularly bad for employment in the sector. Final data for February showed a decrease of 10.8 per cent year on year, while the number of jobs in the sector fell by 10 per cent in January.

"Today's construction figures are further evidence that the recent sharp decline in house completions has considerably reduced the number of job opportunities for those working in the construction trades," said Fás economist Brian McCormick.

"Furthermore, the recent closure of Habitat indicates that this negative employment effect has begun to spill over into the construction-related services sector."

According to Fás, the new figures are consistent with the recent rise in the Live Register as more men sign on. Some 95 per cent of construction workers are male.

In March, the number of people signing on to the Live Register rose by 12,000 to 199,900, the highest figure since August 1999. This fell marginally in April to 199,700.