As the building boom in the State continues building and construction firms saw their turnover grow to more than €10.3 billion in 2003, figures showed today.
The Central Statistics Office said the number of private sector building and construction companies with 20 or more people increased from 646 to 682, a growth of 5.6 per cent. The total turnover for the same firms increased 16.5 per cent from 2002 to 2003.
The total number employed in the building and construction companies rose from 51,738 in 2002 to 56,556 in 2003.
And employees saw a 5 per cent increase in wages for the sector, with the average salary rising to €37,862 the statistics showed.
The growth also benefited subcontractors and companies providing goods and services to the building industry.
Purchases of goods and services - not including subcontractors - rose above €3.2 billion in 2003, compared to just under €2.73 billion in 2002.
Payments to subcontractors rose by 15.1 per cent to €3.5 billion for the year, the Census of Building and Construction found.
PA