Stockholm - Construction group Skanska said Tuesday it was to cut 3,400 jobs from its 20,500-strong workforce in the Nordic region due to the decline in the housing market.

Some 2,000 jobs were to be trimmed in Sweden, while 600 jobs were to go in Finland and 800 in Norway.

The cost of the programme to be implemented during 2009 was estimated at 600 million kronor (73 million dollars).

The latest market outlook suggested a 15-per-cent drop, mainly in the residential markets, Skanska said.

Skanska has some 60,000 employees worldwide. (dpa)