THE UK construction sector contracted for the seventh month running in November as new work fell sharply amid yet more political uncertainty, data showed yesterday.

The poor performance of the sector led firms to lay off workers, in the latest sign that Britain's jobs boom is slowing.

The IHS Markit/Cips construction purchasing managers' index came in at 45.3 in November, compared to 44.2 in October. A figure below 50 indicates contraction.

Tim Moore, economics associate director at data firm IHS Markit, said: "The forthcoming General Election continued to send a chill breeze across the sector."

All three main areas of construction contracted in November. Civil engineering was the worst-performing category, followed by commercial building. There was a much slower decline in housing.

(c) 2019 City A.M., source Newspaper