The work injection provided by the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) economic stimulus program in 2009 created new work for the construction industry according to the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) Forecasts.

ACIF Forecasts reveal construction work around education facilities to return to normal growth levels from 2013 onwards.

The Forecasts shows our aging population continuing the demand for health services and aged care, providing the construction industry with a positive focus for work. The new demand driven forecasts show regional demand and supply gaps for social amenities will assist businesses to plan where to focus their efforts.

Work in retail construction will remain subdued for the medium term but return to trend in 2018, suggesting that the GFC, high Australian dollar and increased competition by online retail hasn’t stopped the appetite for retail therapy.

However, ACIF Forecasts show a major shift in the location of this sector’s growth: by 2022, retail demand in non-metropolitan areas is set to beat that of Sydney and Melbourne combined.