81st Euroconstruct Conference: European Construction Market Outlook until 2018 – Austria's Construction Performance is Well Below Euroconstruct Average

The 81st Euroconstruct conference held in Dublin on 10 June 2016 clearly pointed out the recovery path of the construction markets in the 19 participating European countries. It showed that Austria's overall economic output continues to grow less compared to the rest of the network. Also the construction performance will be less favourable than in the other European countries. While civil engineering is the growth driver in the 19 Euroconstruct countries no major impulse can be expected from this area in Austria. This construction segment is only likely to grow close to stagnation within the next three years until 2018. Austria's currently weak economy has a negative impact on non-residential construction, which will not recover significantly before 2018. Residential construction was also in the past unable to avoid the stagnating trend. A recovery of the housing market from 2016 onwards is likely. The announced housing stimulous package should further push residential construction in 2017 and 2018 mainly in urban areas – all above in Vienna – within the multi-story building segment. All in all, only minor growth is expected for 2016 with an average annual increase by only around 1.3 percent until 2018.