The construction is experiencing an expansive moment in Spain. In June, Eurostat placed our country at the head of Europe with a year-on-year increase of 31.4% in the sector’s production, well above the euro average (1.7%). A rebound that is explained by new developments, residential rehabilitation and public works, but that also coexists with bottlenecks, since more expensive materials, procedures that slow down licenses and, above all, a shortage of qualified labor.
Cristian Lara, a bricklayer and founder of a renovation company, has spoken on this topic with his partner Anabel for the podcast “Trades Sector“Both, who have experience on the subject, explain it clearly, since short teams, agendas to the limit and a poorly resolved salary gap that fuels the demotivation of those who are pulling the wagon.
You may be interested
Gonzalo Bernardos, economist: “Salaries in Spain are lower than in Germany, but Spanish pensions are higher than German ones”
Thousands of workers will see a new deduction of up to 340 euros approved in the BOE on their payroll
How much should bricklayers charge?
For Cristian, the small salary difference between two categories discourages responsibility. “I cannot allow a first-class officer to be charging 1,700 euros and the laborer is charging 1,500, almost 1,600; only 100 euros difference.” That minimum margin, he denounces, “burns” the official responsible for carrying out the work, coordinating others and responding to the client. For him, recognition has to be consistent with the job and real performance.
To face this problem and have his workers motivated, he explains that the objective is that the agreed salary “about 1,800 clean euros” does not stop there; With overtime and supplements they try to push “up to 2,400 euros.” Even so, he emphasizes that “right now, a professional who can do the job well, explain the job to you and get it done for you, should be charging 2,800 euros per month.” The problem, he emphasizes, is not to pay more to those who are worth it, but to find it.
Lack of qualified personnel
Cristian admits that “today it is difficult to find a very good pawn… of the last ten, I have one left.” The complaint is not random and yes, from own experience and speaks of works in inhabited homes, where trust is as important as technique. “We put people in families’ homes; they have to be trustworthy. I don’t have any use for someone who is more with a cell phone than with a trowel.”
For this reason, he explains that it forces him to combine staff with self-employed workers, where he admits “it is more profitable” since billing is simpler and simpler and so as not to depend on whether “someone is late, catches a caravan or does not show up.”
The problem in finding workers is not only in the shortage, but also in the employment platforms. “With portals, failure; word of mouth is what works best,” he explains, where he assures that he has found the best workers.
When it comes to choosing between hiring workers or freelancers, he explains that maintaining a staff increases costs, since they are expensive overtime, contributions, insurance, although it also has its positive side, there is more control. “I like to take on a project and not depend on whether the freelancer can come.”
For subway jobs, the freelancer fits; for a ‘turnkey’ reform, the company responds. And there the principle returns: “I cannot allow the officer to earn like the laborer.” If the job demands more, so does the salary.