Construction output in Scotland reached £14.5bn in 2015 - a new record output for the year, according to full-year figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
Commenting on the new figures, Scottish Building Federation (SBF) managing director Vaughan Hart said: "Today's figures reinforce previous trends, with record levels of output being driven by an infrastructure sector that contributed more than £4bn of output to the industry last year – that's 28% of the industry's total output over the year."
The figures show that there is still some way to go before the sector recovers to the levels seen before the recession. The private commercial sector, for example, contributed £2.4bn of output in 2015, compared to more than £3m in 2007. Housing output in Scotland last year was £2.3bn, compared to a pre-recession output of more than £3bn in 2005.
Mr Hart said: "Major projects such as the Queensferry Crossing will conclude later this year and Scotland's capital budget remains under significant pressure. Levels of industry employment are still far below where they were prior to the recession, despite record levels of output. Against that backdrop, there is still work to be done to secure sustainable long-term growth in the Scottish construction industry – not least by re-establishing the important link between output and employment within the sector."
