Building on growth potential: Preparing the construction sector for the twin transitions
Ippubblikat: 2 December 2025
This report assesses the impact of the green and digital transitions on the European Union’s construction sector in relation to employment, skills, work organisation and working conditions. It assesses the contribution of social dialogue to addressing these challenges. The report finds that, while EU and national policy requirements regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings offer the potential for significant employment creation in the sector, labour and skills shortages linked to poor job quality and the underutilisation of green procurement processes could hamper the full exploitation of these opportunities. This could also risk missing key climate change mitigation targets.
Jekk jogħġbok innota li l-biċċa l-kbira tal-pubblikazzjonijiet tal-Eurofound huma disponibbli esklussivament bl-Ingliż u bħalissa mhumiex qed jiġu tradotti awtomatikament.
The construction sector is central to achieving the goals of the European Green Deal and tackling Europe’s housing shortages. However, recent research points to significant challenges that must be addressed if the EU is reach its climate and unlock the sector’s full potential.
Although the construction sector plays a critical role in delivering green transition targets and addressing housing shortages across the EU, employment in the sector fell by 230,000 between 2010 and 2023, with workforce levels fluctuating in line with economic trends. Labour shortages exceed the EU average and around 7 million job openings are expected by 2035 in the context of an ageing and highly male-dominated workforce.
New data from Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) show that technology can improve physical working conditions that deter new entrants, with the share of workers regularly lifting heavy loads falling from 48 % in 2010 to 33 % in 2024. However, the survey also reveals that digital technologies are underused relative to their potential.
More than a quarter of construction workers will require upskilling to meet the demands of digitalisation and more sustainable construction methods, with a growing demand for renewable energy system installers, BIM modellers and recycling specialists. Training paid for by employers and those receiving training on the job is improving – also supported by higher education levels – but the sector still lags behind the rest of the economy.
Several factors continue to hamper the sector’s role in the twin transition, from the need for more target setting, implementation and monitoring of green and digital goals to the limited use of green public procurement. Fragmentation and long and complex supply chains also hinder the greater update of digital technologies. Strong social partner involvement is also needed to enhance access to updated training.
Din it-taqsima tipprovdi informazzjoni dwar id-data li tinsab f'din il-pubblikazzjoni.
List of tables
Table 1: Examples of circular economy strategies for the construction sector
Table 2: Estimated employment impacts of the green transition in selected Member States
Table 3: Overview of the implications of various digital technologies for work organisation in the construction sector
Table 4: Level of involvement of the social partners in addressing the changes arising from the green and digital transitions
Table A1: Network of Eurofound Correspondents
List of figures
Figure 1: Employment in the construction sector, EU-27, 2010–2023 (millions)
Figure 2: Number of dependent employees in the construction sector by Member State, 2010 and 2023 (thousands)
Figure 3: Number of self-employed workers in the construction sector by Member State, 2010 and 2023 (thousands)
Figure 4: Shares of dependent employees and self-employed workers in 2010 by Member State (%)
Figure 5: Shares of dependent employees and self-employed workers in 2023 by Member State (%)
Figure 6: Core age group employment (workers aged 25–54 years) in the construction sector, EU-27, 2010–2023 (thousands)
Figure 7: Non-core age group employment in the construction sector, EU-27, 2010–2023 (thousands)
Figure 8: Share of women in the construction sector by Member State, 2010 and 2023 (%)
Figure 9: Distribution of workforce in the construction sector by level of education, EU-27, 2010–2023 (%)
Figure 10: Numbers of workers in the construction sector by level of education, EU-27, 2010 and 2023 (thousands)
Figure 11: Share of part-time workers in the construction sector, EU-27, 2010–2023 (%)
Figure 12: Shares of part-time workers in the construction sector by Member State, 2010 and 2023 (%)
Figure 13: Share of workers on fixed-term contracts in the construction sector, EU-27, 2010–2023 (%)
Figure 14: Shares of workers on fixed-term contracts in the construction sector, by Member State, 2010 and 2023 (%)
Figure 15: Gross value added of the construction sector as a share of the total gross value added, EU-27, 2010 and 2024 (%)
Figure 16: Number of enterprises in the construction sector in the EU, 2011–2023 (thousands)
Figure 17: Share of microenterprises in the construction sector in the EU, by Member State, 2023 (%)
Figure 18: Growth in the number of enterprises by enterprise size in the EU, 2011–2023 (percentage change)
Figure 19: Job vacancy rates in the EU construction sector and the whole economy, by quarter, 2014–2024 (%)
Figure 20: Shares of workers who received training paid for by their employer (left panel, 2015 and 2024) and shares of workers who received training on the job (right panel, 2010, 2015 and 2024) in construction and the rest of the economy, EU-27 (%)
Figure 21: Skills matching in the construction sector and the rest of the economy, EU-27, 2010, 2015 and 2024 (%)
Figure 22: Shares of workers in construction (continuous lines) and across all sectors (dashed lines) experiencing OSH risks, EU-27, 2010, 2015 and 2024 (%)
Figure 23: Shares of workers in construction and in the rest of the economy who use digital devices, EU-27, 2024 (%)
Figure 24: Impact of technology in construction and the rest of the economy, EU-27, 2024 (%)
Figure 25: Shares of workers in construction and in the rest of the economy reporting the existence of formal employee representation in the workplace (left panel) and having a regular meeting in which employees can express their views about the organisation (right panel), EU-27, 2015 and 2024 (%)
Il-Eurofound jirrakkomanda li din il-pubblikazzjoni tiġi kkwotata kif ġej.
Eurofound (2025), Building on growth potential: Preparing the construction sector for the twin transitions, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
