Construction is building Africa’s capacity and potential, driving thousands of jobs per year.

The good news is that the outlook for 2026 is much stronger. The sector is set for a measured recovery driven by renewed public and private investment as more large and mega infrastructure projects move ahead, supported by the public sector’s commitment to turn the country into a ‘construction zone’.

Reflecting this shift, the FNB-BER Civil Confidence Index shows that 52% of civil engineering contractors were confident about the sector at the end of last year. This continues the slow but steady rise in confidence seen since Q1 of 2023, marking a significant recovery from the low of 9% observed in Q1 of 2022.

This positive outlook is expected to build momentum across the sector, as rising certainty draws in private capital, pushes projects forward, and expands job creation and SMME participation.

Source: Engineering News