Construction crisis: "Cautious optimism" in the skilled trades

By Christian Block, Lex Kleren, Misch Pautsch Switch to German for original article

The Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts welcomes the government's measures in the construction sector, even if the crisis has not yet been overcome. This is what Tom Wirion, Director General of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts for eleven years, says, the voice of around 9,000 companies and around 95,000 employees. An interview about the state as a competitor to employers, growing bureaucracy, work-life balance and the upgrading of vocational training.

Lëtzebuerger Journal: Mr Wirion, in spring 2024, the President of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Tom Oberweis, described the situation in the skilled crafts sector as "difficult", with the outlook for a deterioration in the same year, especially in construction. Have these pessimistic expectations been confirmed or has the construction crisis been overcome?

Tom Wirion: The outlook described by Mr Oberweis has been confirmed. The latest figures show a drop in employment in construction of eight per cent between 2023 and 2024. Specifically, we will fall from 54,500 to around 50,000 employees in the "gros oeuvre" (everything relating to the building envelope). The number of companies is down by three per cent. A closer look shows that there has certainly been an increase in insolvencies in recent years, but it is not catastrophic. At the same time, however, we have noticed an above-average increase in the number of companies that have simply ceased trading.

We are concerned about this development because it is taking place despite the measures that the government has taken and which we welcome, or the simplifications in construction that are still to come. In the coming months, we will have to see whether things really get moving with regard to VEFA flats.

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