Construction industry in need: 1000 jobs away, but everyone is desperately looking for!

Construction industry in need: 1000 jobs away, but everyone is desperately looking for!

The construction sector in France faces considerable challenges, shaped by a mixture of falling demand and a lack of qualified specialists. In Charente-Maritime, the situation is particularly alarming: within one year the number of employees has dropped by 7.5 %. Between June 2023 and June 2024, around 1,000 jobs were dismantled, a development that is not isolated, because 50,000 jobs in the construction sector for 2024 are predicted nationwide. These difficulties are closely linked to the general crisis situation in the construction industry, including the slow sales of new apartments by real estate developers.

Regardless of the decline in employment figures, the industry continues to have difficulty finding suitable workers. Statistics show that 40 % of construction companies in Charente-Maritime have difficulty recruiting employees-a trend that is also reflected at the national level. Despite the necessity and efforts of companies to win new talents, the recruitment of specialists remains an important challenge.

attractive working conditions and technology progress

Although the industry was confronted with prejudices in relation to working conditions and remuneration, the construction sectors today offers competitive salaries. Philippe Borne, President of the Fédération Française Du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics in Charente-Maritime, indicates that wages in construction are considered above average compared to other industries. In addition, employees receive the same payment, regardless of gender.

Difficulties in recruitment could also be explained by the preference of many employees for temporary employment and higher -paid interim activities, which would present companies with additional challenges. These often have to train and integrate new employees, which is expensive. Borne explains that the introductory and training costs are a significant financial burden on companies.

innovations in the construction sector, such as the mechanization of physically exhausting tasks and the use of exoskelettes, help to improve working conditions and reduce physical stress for employees. Such technologies are aimed at minimizing health problems such as muscular complaints that occur often in the industry.

In order to counter the lack of specialists, the industry organizes various initiatives. As part of the “Week of Professions in Building”, job dating events take place in Grand-Village-Plage on the Île d’Oléron. These events serve to attract interested parties and possibly win new talents for the industry. In addition, visits to construction sites are also planned to bring school children closer to the professions in construction and to arouse their interest.

For further information on the developments in the construction industry and the challenges with which the industry is faced, the article can be found on www.radiofrance.fr to be consulted.