INTRODUCTION

The construction industry plays a significant role in the Australian economy and society, providing homes, work places, and infrastructure such as schools, recreation facilities, hospitals, roads, electricity supply and telecommunications. The demand for, and supply of, construction is influenced by a variety of factors including interest rates, tax changes and changes in population.

The construction industry, and its activities, are strongly linked to other parts of the Australian economy such as manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, and finance and insurance. In addition, industries such as property operators, real estate, architecture and engineering are closely allied with the construction industry.

The construction industry engages in three broad areas of activity:

• residential building (e.g. houses, flats)
• non-residential building (e.g. offices, shops, hotels) and
• engineering construction (e.g. roads, bridges, water, sewerage, mines).

Both the private and public sectors undertake construction activity within Australia. The private sector operates in all three areas of activity, with a major role in residential and nonresidential building activity. The public sector has a major role in initiating and undertaking engineering construction. In addition, it has a role in non-residential building activity, in particular, building hospitals and schools.

Information on social and economic aspects of housing can be found in chapter 10 HOUSING.

More information on the Construction industry can be found in chapters 8 LABOUR, 15 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE, 25 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY and 26 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.