From cranes dotting the skyline to ground-breaking statistics, Ireland's construction industry surged to an €18.5 billion output in 2022, fueled by a remarkable building boom and significant infrastructure investment.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the total value of construction output in Ireland reached €18.5 billion, marking a 12.5% increase from 2021 driven by residential and infrastructure projects.
- Construction output volume index for building increased by 9.8% in the 12 months to Q4 2022 compared to the previous year.
- The value of construction enterprises' work done in Ireland was €45.2 billion in 2021, up 7.3% from 2020.
- Employment in the Irish construction sector totaled 152,600 persons in Q4 2022.
- Average hourly earnings in construction were €28.45 in Q2 2023.
- 14.2% of construction workers were aged under 25 in 2021.
- Number of dwellings completed in Ireland was 29,851 in 2022.
- Residential construction permits issued totaled 36,200 units in 2022.
- Average new house price was €399,345 in Q4 2022.
- Total value of commercial building output was €4.2 billion in 2022.
- Road infrastructure projects accounted for €2.8 billion in public capital expenditure in 2022.
- Office space completions totaled 250,000 sqm in Dublin in 2022.
- Fatalities in construction numbered 11 in 2022, rate of 7.2 per 100,000 workers.
- Lost time incidents rate was 1.8 per 1,000 workers in construction 2022.
- 65% of construction firms reported sustainability initiatives in 2023 survey.
Ireland's construction industry hit €18.5 billion in output in 2022, growing strongly across housing and infrastructure projects.
Commercial/Infrastructure
1Total value of commercial building output was €4.2 billion in 2022.
Verified2Road infrastructure projects accounted for €2.8 billion in public capital expenditure in 2022.
Verified3Office space completions totaled 250,000 sqm in Dublin in 2022.
Verified4Renewable energy construction projects had €1.5 billion investment in 2022.
Directional5Retail construction output grew 8% in 2022.
Single source6National Broadband Plan rollout involved 80,000km of fibre construction by end-2022.
Verified7Hotel developments added 3,200 rooms in 2022.
Verified8Data centre construction floorspace reached 1.2 million sqm under construction in 2023.
Verified9Public non-residential commencements up 25% to 450 projects in 2022.
Directional10Industrial/warehouse space completions: 450,000 sqm in 2022.
Single source11Public transport infrastructure spend: €3.1 billion in 2022.
Verified12New office take-up in Dublin: 320,000 sqm in 2022.
Verified13Wind farm construction: 800MW capacity added 2022.
Verified14Healthcare facilities commencements: 120 projects in 2022.
Directional15Logistics parks under construction: 1.5 million sqm pipeline.
Single source16School building projects completed: 50 under NSIP 2022.
Verified17Fibre broadband homes passed: 1.2 million by 2022.
Verified18Retail park developments: €500 million invested 2022.
Verified19Water infrastructure upgrades: €1.8 billion spend 2022.
Directional20Logistics vacancy rate: 2.5% nationally 2022.
Single source21Luas extensions construction started, €1 billion budget.
Verified22New hospital beds delivered: 1,200 in 2022.
Verified23Solar PV installations: 1.1GW capacity 2022.
Verified24Educational buildings output value: €900 million 2022.
Directional25DART+ rail projects: 40km under construction 2023.
Single source26EV charging infrastructure: 3,500 points built 2022.
Verified27Office vacancy rate Dublin: 8.2% end 2022.
Verified28Flood defence schemes: 25 completed 2022.
VerifiedCommercial/Infrastructure Interpretation
Ireland’s construction industry is clearly keeping its hard hat on to build a future that’s digitally connected, sustainably powered, efficiently supplied, and mercifully less flooded—with everyone from data centres to hospitals fighting for a slice of the ever-expanding concrete pie.
Employment
1Employment in the Irish construction sector totaled 152,600 persons in Q4 2022.
Verified2Average hourly earnings in construction were €28.45 in Q2 2023.
Verified314.2% of construction workers were aged under 25 in 2021.
Verified4Female employment in construction represented 12.5% of the total workforce in 2022.
Directional5There were 5,200 self-employed persons in construction in Q1 2023.
Single source6Construction employment grew by 8.7% from Q4 2021 to Q4 2022.
Verified728,400 construction jobs were added between 2020 and 2022.
Verified8The sector had a vacancy rate of 4.1% in construction occupations in 2022.
Verified9Over 40,000 construction workers were foreign nationals in 2021, comprising 28% of workforce.
Directional10Apprentice registrations in construction reached 4,500 in 2022.
Single source11Employment in building sub-sector: 92,300 in Q4 2022.
Verified12Civil engineering employment: 38,500 persons in 2022.
Verified13Unemployment rate in construction: 4.8% in Q2 2023.
Verified14Part-time workers in construction: 11% of total in 2022.
Directional15Average weekly hours worked: 39.2 in construction Q1 2023.
Single source16Labour costs index up 5.2% YoY in construction Q2 2023.
Verified1725-34 age group comprised 28% of construction workforce 2022.
Verified18Migrant workers from EU: 22,000 in construction 2021.
Verified19Plumbers and pipefitters employment: 12,400 in 2022.
Directional20Construction apprentices completing: 2,800 in 2022.
Single source21Bricklayers employment: 9,200 in Q4 2022.
Verified22Carpenters and joiners: 15,600 employed 2022.
Verified23Electricians in construction: 18,000 in 2022.
Verified24Construction managers: 7,500 persons 2022.
Directional25Labour shortages reported by 72% of firms in 2023.
Single source26Overtime hours average: 3.2 per week in construction.
Verified27Underemployment rate: 2.1% in construction 2022.
VerifiedEmployment Interpretation
While Ireland's construction sector is booming with higher pay and more jobs, it’s simultaneously propped up by foreign nationals and haunted by a chronic shortage of homegrown, younger, and female talent—painting a picture of an industry building faster than it can replenish its own foundations.
Housing
1Number of dwellings completed in Ireland was 29,851 in 2022.
Verified2Residential construction permits issued totaled 36,200 units in 2022.
Verified3Average new house price was €399,345 in Q4 2022.
Verified4Housing starts increased by 52% to 21,500 units in 2022 from 2021.
Directional567% of new dwellings completed were houses, 33% apartments in 2022.
Single source6Social housing deliveries reached 12,800 units in 2022 under Housing for All.
Verified7Vacant dwellings in Ireland numbered 156,000 in Census 2022.
Verified8Residential building output index up 14.6% in 12 months to Q3 2023.
Verified9New apartment completions rose 120% to 8,500 units in 2022.
Directional10Housing waiting lists stood at 55,000 households in mid-2022.
Single source11Dwellings commenced: 29,000 in 2022, up 67% YoY.
Verified12Scheme-only apartment completions: 4,200 units in 2022.
Verified13Average apartment price: €512,000 in Dublin Q4 2022.
Verified14Local authority housing starts: 2,100 units in 2022.
Directional15A-rated new homes: 45% of completions in 2022.
Single source16Housing supply target under Housing for All: 33,000 units/year.
Verified17Rented accommodation completions: 15,000 units 2022.
Verified18Dublin new house completions: 8,500 units in 2022.
Verified19Prefab/modular homes: 4,200 units delivered 2022.
Directional20First-time buyer mortgage drawdowns: 28,000 in 2022.
Single source21New dwelling price index up 9.8% YoY Q3 2022.
Verified22Single house completions: 21,300 in 2022.
Verified23Apartments under 90sqm: 65% of completions 2022.
Verified24Approved housing bodies delivered 8,700 units 2022.
Directional25Buy-to-let purchases: 4,500 in 2022.
Single source26Rural housing grants approved: €120 million 2022.
Verified27Dublin apartment rents avg €2,200/month Q4 2022.
Verified28Housing adaptation grants: 12,000 awarded 2022.
Verified29Student accommodation beds added: 5,200 in 2022.
DirectionalHousing Interpretation
Ireland is building more, and more expensively, yet still seems to be running up a down escalator, with a queue of 55,000 households watching prices climb as we simultaneously complete new homes and tally 156,000 vacant ones.
Output and Value
1In 2022, the total value of construction output in Ireland reached €18.5 billion, marking a 12.5% increase from 2021 driven by residential and infrastructure projects.
Verified2Construction output volume index for building increased by 9.8% in the 12 months to Q4 2022 compared to the previous year.
Verified3The value of construction enterprises' work done in Ireland was €45.2 billion in 2021, up 7.3% from 2020.
Verified4Residential construction output accounted for 42% of total construction output value in 2022.
Directional5Infrastructure output grew by 15.2% year-on-year in Q3 2023.
Single source6Total construction output index stood at 142.6 in Q2 2023 (2015=100).
Verified7Non-residential building output increased by 11.4% in the 12 months to Q1 2023.
Verified8Civil engineering output rose by 18.7% year-on-year in Q4 2022.
Verified9The construction PMI index for Ireland averaged 52.3 in 2022, indicating expansion.
Directional10Construction sector contributed 6.8% to Ireland's GDP in 2022.
Single source11Construction output index for Q1 2023 was 138.2 (base 2015=100), up 10.5% YoY.
Verified12Value added in construction sector was €12.3 billion in 2022.
Verified13Building output volume up 7.2% in Q3 2023 YoY.
Verified14Civil engineering work done valued at €6.8 billion in 2021.
Directional15Turnover for construction firms averaged €4.5 million per enterprise in 2021.
Single source16Export of construction services from Ireland: €1.2 billion in 2022.
Verified17Construction PMI hit 56.4 in December 2022, highest in 6 months.
Verified18Sector GVA growth forecasted at 4.5% for 2023 by CIF.
Verified19Non-building output index up 16.3% YoY Q2 2023.
Directional20Construction imports value: €8.7 billion in 2022.
Single source21Price index for construction output: 112.5 in 2022 (2015=100).
Verified22Construction output deflator index: 105.3 in 2022.
VerifiedOutput and Value Interpretation
Ireland's construction sector is booming with the vigor of a celtic tiger cub, as evidenced by a €18.5 billion output swell driven by a relentless focus on homes and roads, all while politely suggesting we might need to import half the country to keep the pace.
Safety/Sustainability
1Fatalities in construction numbered 11 in 2022, rate of 7.2 per 100,000 workers.
Verified2Lost time incidents rate was 1.8 per 1,000 workers in construction 2022.
Verified365% of construction firms reported sustainability initiatives in 2023 survey.
Verified4Carbon emissions from construction sector totaled 2.1 Mt CO2eq in 2021.
Directional592% compliance rate with safety regulations in 2022 inspections.
Single source6Use of modular construction rose to 15% of housing output in 2022.
Verified7Waste generation in construction was 1.2 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified8Training hours on safety per worker averaged 12 hours annually in 2022.
Verified9Energy-efficient building certifications issued: 2,500 BER A-rated in 2022.
Directional10Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 42% of construction injuries 2022.
Single source1178% of firms adopted digital safety tech in 2023.
Verified12Recycling rate of construction waste: 88% in 2021.
Verified13Near-miss reporting up 35% in construction 2022.
Verified14Zero-carbon construction pilots: 25 projects in 2022.
Directional15Safety officer employment: 1 per 200 workers avg 2022.
Single source16Timber frame usage in housing: 25% of new builds 2022.
Verified17EU taxonomy-aligned projects: €2.5 billion in construction 2022.
Verified18Heat pump installations in new builds: 12% in 2022.
Verified19ISO 45001 certified firms: 45% of large constructors 2022.
Directional20Slips/trips/falls: 35% of construction accidents 2022.
Single source2155% reduction target in embodied carbon by 2030.
Verified22Green Public Procurement in construction: 30% projects.
Verified23Biodiversity net gain policy adopted by 20% firms 2023.
Verified24Water usage efficiency improved 15% in builds 2022.
Directional25Mental health training reached 60% workforce 2022.
Single source26Low-emission materials usage: 18% of projects 2022.
Verified27Safety audits conducted: 15,000 in 2022 by HSA.
Verified28Passivhaus certifications: 150 buildings 2022.
VerifiedSafety/Sustainability Interpretation
While celebrating a commendable 92% safety compliance and a soaring 88% recycling rate, the industry still grapples with the sobering human cost of 11 fatalities and a high rate of musculoskeletal injuries, even as it ambitiously constructs a greener future with 25 zero-carbon pilots and a target to slash embodied carbon by 55%.
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