The Construction Industry Federaton is today warning that up to 100,000 jobs in the sector will be at risk next year.
The CIF is forecasting only 10,000 houses will be built in 2010 - a dramatic fall from output of 90,000 at the height of the boom in 2006.
It comes alongside a prediction from the ESRI today of 76,000 job losses in the overall job market next year.
However, CIF director of policy and Research Martin Whelan believes the numbers joining the Live Register will be greater than this.