Construction ranked sixth among 19 broad UK industry categories for average annual business-population growth over five years, at 1.5%, according to a private analysis reported on 5 October 2026. The finding is about the number of businesses—not construction output, employment or profits—and the underlying analysis was not available for independent replication.
What the report says about construction
A 5 October 2026 trade-press article reported that Approved Business Finance’s “Booming Industries” analysis placed construction sixth of 19 broad UK industry categories for average annual business-population growth over five years, at 1.5%. The article says the analysis used Office for National Statistics (ONS) business-population data covering 615 industries, grouped into broader categories using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. The underlying analysis was not located, so its calculations and ranking cannot be independently confirmed here. Read the trade-press report.
The same report placed construction fourth for average five-year turnover growth, at 9.64%. That is a separate measure from growth in the number of businesses; neither figure means that every construction firm grew, or that the sector’s output or profits rose at the same rate. The report’s account of the analysis does not establish those outcomes.
How construction compares with other sectors
The report attributed the following business-population growth figures to the private analysis. These are reported results, not independently checked calculations.
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| Broad industry category | Reported average annual business-population growth over five years |
|---|---|
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning | +12.5% |
| Real estate | +4.2% |
| Information and communication | +3.5% |
| Human health and social work | +2.8% |
| Water, sewerage and waste management | +1.8% |
| Construction | +1.5% — sixth of 19 categories |
| Manufacturing | −1.2% |
| Financial and insurance | −2.5% |
| Mining and quarrying | −4.2% |
The trade-press account does not supply independently verified calculations for these comparisons. See its report of the private analysis.
What official business counts show
Separate ONS figures give a useful snapshot of registered construction businesses, but they do not reproduce the private analysis’s five-year average or ranking. ONS counted 380,000 construction registered businesses in 2024, 385,000 in 2025 and 393,000 in 2026. The bulletin says the property industry had the largest percentage increase in businesses from 2025 to 2026; construction should not be described as the leader in that latest annual comparison. ONS business activity, size and location bulletin.
Rank #2
A separate government release counted 885,000 construction SMEs at the start of 2025 and said SMEs made up at least 99% of businesses in each main industry sector. That establishes the sector’s scale and the importance of smaller firms, not a comparative growth ranking. Government business-population release.
What the ranking does—and does not—measure
Business-population growth concerns the number of businesses in a defined sector. It is not interchangeable with other indicators of how an industry is performing:
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute- Business population: how the number of businesses changes.
- Turnover: sales revenue, which can change without a corresponding change in the number of firms.
- Output: the value or volume of construction activity, a different measure from business counts.
- Employment: jobs or workers, which may rise or fall independently of the number of businesses.
- Productivity and profit: measures of efficiency and financial returns that the reported ranking does not address.
Rankings also depend on the period, industry grouping and classification used. Here, the headline is a five-year average for broad categories assembled from SIC-coded industries, as described by the trade-press report; it should not be treated as a measure of the latest annual change or as a forecast. The report describes its method and figures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the finding means for construction firms
The result suggests that the number of construction businesses grew over the period measured, relative to many of the broad categories in the reported comparison. It cannot show whether a particular contractor, trade or region is expanding, whether demand is strong enough to support a new business, or whether a company can profitably take on more work. Those questions require evidence about the firm’s market, costs, capacity and cash flow.
Mark Kozo, commercial director of Approved Finance Group, said: “For SMEs in particular, having access to the right finance at the right time can be crucial to making these opportunities happen.” He also said: “Rather than waiting until cash flow becomes a barrier, businesses should consider where investment could help them increase capacity and improve efficiency.” These are comments from a finance-group representative, not independent evidence that borrowing is necessary, suitable or available on particular terms. Read the attributed comments.
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