São Paulo - In 2003, employment in the construction industry was down 3,21%. That works out to a reduction of 38,300 jobs for the year.

According to the government statistical bureau (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) (IBGE), in 2003 activity in the construction industry dropped 8.6%, continuing a downward trend that began in 2000.

The IBGE reports that 1.15 million workers were employed in construction in December 2003; a total of 345,800 in the state of São Paulo. (AB)