For decades, the construction was an economic engine for thousands of families in Spain, but the panorama has taken a 180 degree turn. Today not only housing is scarce (which causes prices not to grow), but also lack masons to build them.
The absence of generational relief threatens to leave without labor a sector that has always had a key role. It should only be seen that the average age of construction workers has increased until approximately 45 years, that is, an aging of about 8 years since 2007. The great obstacle remains the same: low wages for a trade as hard and physically demanding as construction.
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In this regard, Manuel, a mason with many years of experience behind him, has had no qualms about showing his concern about the future of masons in a recent interview on the news of the news of Telecincojust when they are more missing than ever. He makes it clear with a phrase: “I get up at 5 in the morning and get home at 10 at night”, referring to young people are not able to do that today.
The shortage of workers obliges, in some cases, to extend the working day. However, the forecast for the future is even worse, since young people feel nothing attracted to a very sacrificed work environment in which, according to the protagonist’s words, we must deal with “the sun, very heat and many demands.”
A profession without replacement
Manuel laments assuming that his generation “is the last one that remains in the work” and that unfortunately “there is no replacement.” A new blow to a sector already punished during the 2008 real estate bubble, when half of the workers said goodbye.
The challenge will be even greater when the masons of Manuel’s generation retire in the coming decades. In that context, only 10% of employees under 30 will have to load with much of the responsibility of a trade as hard as it is essential.
In fact, according to the Labor Foundation of Construction and the National Construction Confederation, within 10 years the retirement of around 21.9% of the employed population is expected.
There are few masons women
To this difficulty is added the low female presence: only 8.9% of those employed in construction are currently women, so the incorporation of new workers can not balance the situation. That is why, when there are cases like Emily, a bricklayer woman who loves her work, everyone seems strange.
Although there are exceptions of masonal women who exercise in a profession historically dominated by men, the short -term exit seems clear: attracting young people showing the advantages of this trade and getting the relief of the current workers.
Perhaps with an increase in salaries through new construction agreements, you could get the youngest again to be attracted to this profession.