The Tauranga based president of the Certified Builders Association is optimistic the construction industry is recovering, despite figures from the Department of Labour showing the industry's workforce has shrunk by 10 per cent.

Allan Shaw.

The Department of Labour's latest construction sector outlook shows more jobs could be lost before the economic downturn ends.
Across New Zealand, the number of people employed in the construction industry is down about 10 per cent, or 13,000 people.
Allan Shaw, Tauranga builder and president of the Certified Builders Association, says he is happy with the amount of work he is receiving and believes the number of people employed in the industry is stable.
'It has fluctuated, but that's the nature of the industry. For me personally, we do have work at the moment and we will probably go into the new year ok,” says Allan.
He employs six people to work alongside him and says he has maintained those numbers throughout the recession.
'There's definitely a feeling out there that we may have turned the corner. I think we have weathered the storm really well because we have diversified. There's a little bit more of a positive mood out there,” says Allan.