The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) provides estimates of the number of persons employed in the construction sector on a quarterly basis but does not directly measure job losses per se. Changes in these estimated numbers from one period to another reflect the net change in the stock of persons employed in the sector.
The estimated number of persons under 25 years of age employed in the construction sector in the second quarter of 2007 was 58,100. In the second quarter of 2008 this had fallen to 44,600 a reduction of 13,500 over the year. This represents 50.3% of the total reduction in employment in the construction sector during this period.
The estimated number of persons under 25 years of age employed in the construction sector who stated they did not have a leaving certificate or equivalent in the second quarter of 2007 was 15,200. In the second quarter of 2008 this had fallen to 10,200, a reduction of 5,000 over the period.