Simon Noakes, the chair of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation Construction Sector Group, has questioned the accuracy of recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures on construction orders.

According to the ONS, new construction orders fell faster than at any time since 1987 in the first three months of 2011. Order volumes were 23% lower across the sector than in the previous quarter and 18% lower than in the same period in 2010.

Responding to the figures, Noakes says: “These figures will only continue the debate about the true economic situation within the construction industry.

“While these figures are concerning, most recruiters certainly do not feel that the industry has suffered so badly in the first three months of the year. In fact, we have seen a reasonable flow of new orders throughout and continued demand for staff.

“However, even if the real picture is not as bad as is being suggested, there is still cause for concern. The recovery we have been seeing after two very bad years is a fragile one, and it remains crucial that we do everything possible to make growth sustainable and long term.

“Supporting the entrepreneurial spirit and allowing self-employment where appropriate will also be a crucial part of this.”