A need for more than 10,000 new workers per year up to 2012

The upturn of recent years has resulted in a spectacular increase in admissions of workers into the construction industry. More than 13,000 new workers joined the industry in 2008, three times more than 10 years ago.

Up to 2012, demand will continue to be strong in most trades. The industry will have growing replacement requirements because of accelerated labour-force ageing and high turnover. From year to year, about 14% of workers stop working in the industry at least temporarily (retirement, change of industry, creation of companies, etc.); on the other hand, 7% return to the industry. In net terms, therefore, the recruitment needs for the construction industry stand at 7%, strictly to fill replacement needs. Given the forecasted slight job growth up to 2012, the industry will need more than 10,000 new workers per year.