Romania's construction sector is expected to grow by 17 percent in 2007, surpassing the farming sector in terms of percentage of GDP, the Romanian National Commission of Prognosis said Thursday.

"Construction will stay in 2007, and in the years to come as well, the sector with the most significant growth rate," said Ion Ghizdeanu, chairman of the agency.

"We have estimated a rise in the gross added value in construction by 17 percent, which will result in the sector overtaking agriculture for the first time, in terms of percentage of the GDP," Ghizdeanu added.

Job vacancies in the construction sector increased by 30.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, as compared with the first quarter in 2006. The increase was supported especially by maintenance and repair work (43.6 percent) and rebuilding (32.2 percent).