According to the news published by the newspaper Observador, the index of production in construction showed an annual growth of 4.1% in March of this year, which represents an increase of 1.0 percentage points compared to the previous month. This increase is linked to the civil engineering segment, which showed a growth of 4.6% in March, an increase of 2.6 percentage points compared to February.
Construction and employment growth in Portugal in March
The building construction sector also recorded growth in March of 3.7%, slightly down from 3.8% in the previous month. With regard to the employment index, there was a slowdown in annual growth in March, when the increase was 2.9%, after being 3.1% in February.
As far as the remuneration index is concerned, it showed a year-on-year increase of 8.4% in March, compared to a growth of 7.2% in the previous month. The rates of change in employment and remuneration in monthly terms were 0.5% and 6.5%, respectively.
Growth in construction can boost the economy, but challenges must be faced
This increase in construction output could be good news for the country’s economy, since construction is an important sector when it comes to job creation and investment. In addition, the upward trend in civil engineering suggests that there may be greater attention to investment in infrastructure and public works, which may continue to boost the economy.
However, it is also important to consider the possible challenges that the sector faces, such as the shortage of skilled labor and the volatility of the real estate market. In addition, it is crucial that measures are taken to ensure the environmental and social sustainability of buildings, so that the sector can grow responsibly and lastingly.