Chapter7. Construction, Real Estate and Transportation Industries and Other Industries

1. The number of business establishments in the construction industry in the city was 8,691 as of June 1, 2004, accounting for about 1.5% of the national total. In terms of the number of business establishments, the industry declined by 7.4% from 2001 to 2004. By segment in this industry, however, the construction and refurbishing segment almost doubled from 2001 to 2004.
   
   
2. The value of construction investment in the Greater Nagoya Area has been declining since 1994 due primarily to the stagnant economy triggered by the collapse of the bubble economy. Private investment has shown signs of a slight recovery since 2003. However, public investment started to decrease sharply from 2003, and in FY 2005 fell to the lowest level in the past 10 years.
   
   
3. The number of new housing starts in the city peaked in 2000, the year following the introduction of the home buyers' tax break, and continued to fall thereafter. However, in 2005 the number of new housing starts increased significantly in the categories of houses for rent and condominiums, which is equivalent to the level of 2000.
   
   
4. The real estate industry in the city had 6,225 business establishments and 25,152 persons engaged as of June 1, 2004, decreases of 4.2% and 6.6%, respectively, compared with 2001.
   
   
5. The transportation industry of the city had 2,530 business establishments and 68,712 persons engaged as of June 1, 2004, decreases of 8.6% and 5.0%, respectively, compared with 2001.
   
   
6. A comparison of the three major metropolitan areas in the number of transported passengers shows that public transportation accounts for around 60% in and around the Tokyo Metropolitan area and the Keihanshin (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe) area, while it accounts for less than 30% in and around Nagoya, which depends more on private cars.
   
   
7. In FY 2005, the volume of cargo which departed from or arrived in Aichi Prefecture was about 445.83 million tons, of which about half was moved within the prefecture. In transportation between Aichi Prefecture and neighboring prefectures, the volume with Mie Prefecture increased from 2004, while inbound flows from Gifu and Shizuoka Prefectures decreased significantly. Outbound　/inbound flows with the Tokyo and Osaka areas also decreased. In 2005, the overall volume of cargo slightly decreased from 2004.
   
   
8. The mining industry of the city peaked between 1955 and 1964. In 1957, the number of business establishments reached 28, and 389 people were engaged in the industry. The city used to be well known in Japan as a producer of brown coal, but with the emergence of new energies, the mining industry has shrunk overall. Meanwhile, the number of farm households has been on the decline since 1990. In 2006, there were 4,168 farm households in the city, with more than 90% of farm households having another side business.