From a €38.2 billion surge powered by housing and roads to a near-full employment workforce, Ireland's construction industry is building an economic powerhouse one brick and blueprint at a time.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the total value of construction output in Ireland reached €38.2 billion, marking a 12.5% increase from 2022 driven by residential and infrastructure projects
- Construction sector contributed 13.4% to Ireland's GDP in 2023, up from 11.8% in 2022, reflecting robust housing demand
- Average annual growth rate of Irish construction industry from 2019-2023 was 8.7%, fueled by government investment in public works
- Total employment in Ireland's construction sector was 170,000 persons in Q4 2023, up 8% from 2022
- Construction unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2022
- Average hourly earnings in construction rose to €28.50 in 2023, a 5.8% increase YoY
- Total number of major residential projects underway was 450 in 2023, delivering 25,000 units
- National Broadband Plan construction completed 85% of 96,000km fiber rollout by end 2023
- Dublin MetroLink project advanced to 25% completion in 2023, cost €3.2 billion
- Average price of ready-mix concrete rose 4.2% to €112 per cubic meter in Q4 2023
- Steel rebar prices averaged €850 per tonne in 2023, up 2% YoY due to import reliance
- Timber (softwood) costs increased 6% to €520 per cubic meter in 2023
- Construction waste recycling rate reached 88% in 2023, up from 82% in 2022
- 35% of new builds used low-carbon concrete in 2023 under green procurement
- Building Energy Rating (BER) A-rated new homes were 65% of completions in 2023
Ireland's construction sector is booming, driven by strong residential demand and major government infrastructure projects.
Economic Indicators
1In 2023, the total value of construction output in Ireland reached €38.2 billion, marking a 12.5% increase from 2022 driven by residential and infrastructure projects
Verified2Construction sector contributed 13.4% to Ireland's GDP in 2023, up from 11.8% in 2022, reflecting robust housing demand
Verified3Average annual growth rate of Irish construction industry from 2019-2023 was 8.7%, fueled by government investment in public works
Verified4Construction investment as a percentage of GNI* in Ireland stood at 9.2% in 2023, highest since 2008 peak
Directional5Value of new residential construction orders in Q4 2023 was €2.1 billion, 15% higher than Q4 2022
Single source6Non-residential construction output grew by 10.3% YoY in 2023 to €14.5 billion, led by commercial developments
Verified7Infrastructure construction spending hit €7.8 billion in 2023, representing 20% of total sector output
Verified8Forecast for Irish construction growth in 2024 is 6.8%, with residential leading at 9.2%
Verified9Construction deflation rate in Ireland was -1.2% in 2023 due to falling material costs post-Ukraine crisis
Directional10Total capital investment in construction reached €42.3 billion in 2023 including public-private partnerships
Single source11Residential construction permits issued increased by 22% to 35,000 units in 2023
Verified12Sector productivity growth in construction was 4.1% in 2023, above EU average of 2.9%
Verified13Construction exports from Ireland (prefab modules) valued at €1.2 billion in 2023
Verified14Public capital expenditure on construction was €10.1 billion in Budget 2024 allocations
Directional15Private sector construction investment grew 14% to €25.6 billion in 2023
Single source16Construction value added tax receipts rose 18% to €3.4 billion in 2023
Verified17Industry capacity utilization rate reached 87% in Q3 2023, indicating near full employment
Verified18Cumulative construction output growth 2020-2023 averaged 7.9% annually
Verified19Construction loans approved by Irish banks totaled €8.9 billion in 2023, up 11%
Directional20Sector's share of total business investment was 28% in 2023
Single source21Construction PMI index averaged 52.3 in 2023, indicating expansion
Verified22Total floor area completed in new builds was 4.2 million sqm in 2023
Verified23Engineering construction output up 13% to €9.8 billion in 2023
Verified24Construction R&D expenditure was €450 million in 2023, 1.2% of output
Directional25Sector import content of output was 35% in 2023, down from 42% in 2021
Single source26Construction bankruptcy rate fell to 1.2% in 2023 from 2.8% in 2022
Verified27Average tender price inflation was 3.5% in 2023
Verified28Total sector turnover per employee was €285,000 in 2023
Verified29Construction's multiplier effect on economy estimated at 2.8 in 2023
Directional30Foreign direct investment in Irish construction firms was €2.1 billion in 2023
Single sourceEconomic Indicators Interpretation
Ireland’s construction industry is hammering out an economic boom, not just building houses and roads but actively rebuilding its own weight in the national economy.
Employment Statistics
1Total employment in Ireland's construction sector was 170,000 persons in Q4 2023, up 8% from 2022
Verified2Construction unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2022
Verified3Average hourly earnings in construction rose to €28.50 in 2023, a 5.8% increase YoY
Verified445% of construction workforce were non-EEA nationals in 2023, mainly from Eastern Europe
Directional5Number of self-employed in construction increased by 12% to 42,000 in 2023
Single source6Female participation in construction workforce was 12.5% in 2023, up from 10.8% in 2020
Verified7Youth employment (18-24) in sector grew 15% to 18,500 in 2023
Verified8Overtime hours in construction averaged 4.2 hours/week per employee in 2023
Verified9Registered apprentices in construction reached 12,000 in 2023, 20% increase
Directional10Construction vacancy rate was 3.8% in Q4 2023, highest among sectors
Single source11Average age of construction workers was 42.3 years in 2023, with 28% over 50
Verified12Part-time employment in construction was 8.7% of total in 2023
Verified13Skilled trades shortage affected 65% of firms in 2023 survey
Verified14Labor turnover rate in construction was 14.2% in 2023
Directional15Remote working in construction offices was 22% of admin staff in 2023
Single source16Union membership in sector declined to 18% in 2023 from 22% in 2020
Verified17Health & safety training coverage reached 92% of workforce in 2023
Verified18Migrant worker integration programs trained 5,200 in construction skills in 2023
Verified19Wage premium for construction over average economy was 12% in 2023
Directional20Temporary agency workers in construction numbered 15,000 in 2023, up 25%
Single source21Disability employment rate in construction was 4.1% in 2023
Verified22Night shift employment accounted for 11% of hours in 2023
Verified23Upskilling programs reached 28,000 workers in 2023 via SOLAS
Verified24Construction employment growth forecast at 4.5% for 2024 to 177,500 jobs
Directional25Zero-hour contracts in sector reduced to 2.1% in 2023
Single source26Average job tenure in construction was 7.2 years in 2023
VerifiedEmployment Statistics Interpretation
Ireland's construction sector is thriving with more jobs, higher wages, and impressive safety training, yet it's precariously balanced on a foundation of skilled labor shortages, an aging workforce, and a heavy reliance on migrant workers, all while struggling to hire enough young people and women to build its future.
Material Costs
1Average price of ready-mix concrete rose 4.2% to €112 per cubic meter in Q4 2023
Verified2Steel rebar prices averaged €850 per tonne in 2023, up 2% YoY due to import reliance
Verified3Timber (softwood) costs increased 6% to €520 per cubic meter in 2023
Verified4Asphalt price per tonne was €95 in 2023, 3.5% higher than 2022
Directional5Cement dispatch volumes reached 2.8 million tonnes in 2023, price €120/tonne avg
Single source6Brick prices averaged €0.85 per unit in 2023, stable YoY
Verified7Diesel fuel for construction equipment cost €1.65/liter avg in 2023
Verified8PVC piping costs rose 5% to €4.20 per meter in 2023
Verified9Roof tile prices €1.45 each avg, up 1.8% in 2023
Directional10Electrical copper wire €9,500/tonne in 2023, volatile supply
Single source11Insulation materials (wool) €25/sqm avg price in 2023, down 8% YoY
Verified12Glass for facades €45/sqm in 2023 commercial projects
Verified13Plasterboard €12.50/sheet, stable in 2023
Verified14Paint costs €35/10L tin avg for exteriors in 2023
Directional15Aggregates (crushed rock) €18/tonne in 2023
Single source16Bitumen for roads €650/tonne in 2023, up 4%
Verified17Aluminum profiles €3,200/tonne avg 2023
Verified18Sanitaryware units avg €250 each in 2023 residential
Verified19HVAC equipment costs rose 7% to €15,000/unit avg in 2023
Directional20Scaffolding rental €1.20/sqm/day in 2023 urban areas
Single source21Precast concrete elements €180/cum in 2023
Verified22Waterproofing membranes €8/sqm in 2023
Verified23Floor screed €22/sqm applied in 2023
Verified24Reinforcing mesh €2.50/sqm in 2023
Directional25Lime render €18/sqm in 2023 heritage projects
Single source26Solar panel installation materials €120/Wp in 2023
Verified27Steel roofing sheets €16/sqm in 2023
VerifiedMaterial Costs Interpretation
Ireland's builders, in a heroic feat of fiscal juggling, are somehow holding the line on bricks and plasterboard while being pelted from all sides by pricier concrete, thirsty machinery, and a shockingly expensive desire for warm homes and sunny roofs.
Project Data
1Total number of major residential projects underway was 450 in 2023, delivering 25,000 units
Verified2National Broadband Plan construction completed 85% of 96,000km fiber rollout by end 2023
Verified3Dublin MetroLink project advanced to 25% completion in 2023, cost €3.2 billion
Verified41,200km of new cycleways built under Greenways Strategy in 2023
Directional5New hospital projects: 8 under construction totaling 1.5 million sqm in 2023
Single source6Offshore wind farm developments: 5 projects with 3GW capacity approved in 2023
Verified7Social housing delivery reached 12,500 units via local authorities in 2023
Verified8Road resurfacing covered 4,500km nationwide in 2023 under maintenance program
Verified9Data center constructions added 500MW capacity in Leinster region 2023
Directional10School building program completed 250 projects, 1.2 million sq ft in 2023
Single source11Flood defense schemes: 45 schemes progressed, protecting 25,000 properties in 2023
Verified12Hotel developments: 15 new builds with 4,500 rooms completed in 2023
Verified13Renewable energy projects: 2GW solar and wind under construction in 2023
Verified14Public transport: Luas extensions added 5km track in Dublin 2023
Directional15Wastewater treatment plants upgraded at 120 sites in 2023
Single source16Retail park expansions totaled 300,000 sqm in 2023
Verified17Airport expansions: Dublin runway project 40% complete in 2023
Verified18Timber frame housing projects delivered 8,000 units in 2023
Verified19Gas pipeline network extended by 250km in 2023
Directional20University campus expansions added 200,000 sqm across 7 institutions in 2023
Single source21Modular construction projects numbered 120, saving 20% time on average in 2023
Verified22Rail projects: DART+ advanced 30%, electrifying 50km in 2023
Verified23Industrial parks developed 1.5 million sqm logistics space in 2023
Verified24Heritage restoration projects: 75 sites completed, €150m invested in 2023
DirectionalProject Data Interpretation
Ireland is proving it’s not just blarney by building a remarkably modern, connected, and greener society from the ground up, one home, fiber cable, cycleway, wind turbine, and metro line at a time.
Sustainability and Regulations
1Construction waste recycling rate reached 88% in 2023, up from 82% in 2022
Verified235% of new builds used low-carbon concrete in 2023 under green procurement
Verified3Building Energy Rating (BER) A-rated new homes were 65% of completions in 2023
Verified4Carbon emissions from construction fell 12% to 4.2 MtCO2eq in 2023
Directional5Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) compliance achieved in 92% of public projects 2023
Single source6Biodiversity net gain mandated in 40% of local authority planning in 2023
Verified7Renewable materials usage up to 28% of total volume in 2023 residential
Verified8Water usage efficiency improved 15% in new commercial builds 2023
Verified975% reduction target for embodied carbon set for public projects by 2030, progress 18% in 2023
Directional10Modular offsite construction reduced waste by 25% avg in 2023 projects
Single source11Planning permissions with sustainability conditions rose to 95% in 2023
Verified12Heat pump installations in new builds hit 45% penetration in 2023
Verified13Green Public Procurement applied to 60% of construction tenders in 2023
Verified14Timber certification (FSC/PEFC) covered 85% of used softwood in 2023
Directional15Energy Performance Certificates issued 120,000 for construction in 2023
Single source16Construction sector Scope 3 emissions reporting mandatory for top 100 firms from 2023
Verified17Rainwater harvesting systems in 22% of new non-residential builds 2023
Verified18EV charging infrastructure mandated in 100% of new commercial carparks 2023
Verified19Circularity index for materials reached 45% in pilot projects 2023
Directional20Noise regulation compliance fines totaled €2.5m in 2023 for breaches
Single source21Health & Safety Authority inspections up 20% to 15,000 in construction 2023
Verified22Building Regulations Part L (energy) amendments enforced from Jan 2023 tightened U-values by 15%
Verified23Biodiversity action plans required for projects over €5m from 2023
Verified24Passive House certifications issued 450 for Irish projects in 2023
Directional25Waste levy on construction increased to €120/tonne in 2023
Single source26Green Bonds issued for construction projects totaled €1.2bn in 2023
Verified27Air quality monitoring at sites showed PM10 compliance 98% in 2023
Verified28Retrofitting grants disbursed €450m for 35,000 homes in 2023
VerifiedSustainability and Regulations Interpretation
The Irish construction industry is now building with the subtlety of a sledgehammer but the precision of a surgeon, turning what was once a brute-force carbon belcher into a surprisingly graceful, green-tinged machine that recycles its mess, pumps in heat pumps, and even makes room for biodiversity, all while the regulators keep a sharp eye on the bottom line and the air quality.
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