What We Learned from the 2019 Construction Industry Report

The 2019 Construction Industry Report, based on the survey we conducted with Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ), is now available to review the findings. In its third year, the aim of the Construction Industry Report is to provide a snapshot of the triumphs and challenges the New Zealand construction industry is facing in 2019. Last year was a tumultuous time for the construction industry following the liquidation of several high-profile construction companies. 

Here’s a taster of the 2019 Construction Industry Report:

Clearer work programme

There are two factors that the construction industry overwhelmingly sees as having a positive impact over the next three years. Number one is the development of a clearer pipeline for both central government and local government work (77 per cent of respondents). Number two is the proposed investment into water infrastructure to meet new fresh water and wastewater regulatory (70 per cent of respondents).

It is estimated that over $2 billion worth of work needs to be done nationally to upgrade wastewater infrastructure to meet the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management. Large businesses are putting their money where their mouth is, as respondents from large businesses say they are planning to increase their capabilities in working on three waters infrastructure.

Technology in construction

Technology continues to be of growing importance in the construction industry. The most popular technologies that construction companies are looking to adopt in the next twelve months are specialised construction software, GPS fleet tracking, and small asset tracking. SMEs, however, are less likely to have someone in charge of managing technology and therefore much more likely to rely on the technology supplier for training.

A common trend that Teletrac Navman has seen across customers in a range of industries, is that the integration of fleet and jobsite technology increases in steps. A business often introduces technology to target one or two areas. As staff increase their skills in using the system, they start to introduce more complex integrations and apply the system across more areas of the business. Thorough staff training is key to unlocking the full potential of the technology investments – be it on-site machine control and guidance, or back office specialised software systems.

Mental health

We included some questions on mental health in this year’s survey, due to the alarming rates of poor mental health in New Zealand. International studies have also indicated that there are higher rates of construction workers experiencing mental health difficulties than workers in other sectors.

The respondents show strong awareness of mental health and well-being, with around two thirds of respondents often or always concerned about their employees’ mental health. However, only 15 per cent felt very well prepared to deal with issues.

It’s important for the industry to be aware of and prepared to deal with mental health issues in the workplace. A small number of Kiwi companies have undertaken programmes such as the Australian-led Mates in Construction (MIC) programme, which aims to train staff to recognise warning signs in workmates and learn where to get help. There are a wide number of support services available and the Mental Health Foundation provides an excellent starting point for information.

Thanks to Civil Contractors New Zealand for its partnership on this annual project. There’s a lot more to digest inside the full report and we encourage you to take a look. To download the full Construction Industry Report please complete the form below.