The labor shortage in the construction sector continues to generate significant bottlenecks, both in Romania and across Europe. According to Eurostat, over 22% of job vacancies in construction remain unfilled, mainly due to insufficient qualifications and labor migration.

In Romania, this problem is amplified by the aging of the active workforce in the sector: the average age of construction workers has reached 45, while the number of young employees is steadily declining. INS data show that in 2024, only 18,000 people under the age of 30 worked in construction, compared with over 30,000 in 2016.

The lack of qualified personnel delays projects, increases costs, and affects execution quality. Some companies rely on workers from Asia, but their integration involves additional costs and administrative challenges. Another proposed solution is the introduction of dual vocational training programs in partnership with technical high schools and technical universities.

The Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Education launched in 2024 a pilot program to train 1,000 young people in construction trades, but the impact remains limited. A systemic approach would require private-sector involvement in curriculum development and the provision of practice scholarships.

Without rapid and coherent measures, the labor crisis will become the main obstacle to implementing major infrastructure projects and attracting European funds. The solution must come from public–private partnership, with a focus on vocational training and legislative predictability.

(Photo: Freepik)