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With 80 job openings, Portugal's construction industry is urgently seeking help from immigrants to avoid collapse. Billion-dollar projects are at risk, and the government is studying quick solutions to regularize foreign workers.
One of the biggest crises in the recent history of the construction industry in Portugal threatens to paralyze billion-dollar projects and compromise the country's economic growth.
With 80 thousand open places and with no prospects of filling in the short term, the sector is seeking urgent solutions to avoid a collapse in public and private works.
As business owners try to overcome the challenges posed by the labor shortage, the Portuguese government faces pressure to review its immigration policies.
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Would the regularization of immigrants be the immediate solution to save the sector and maintain the pace of economic development? This is the big question at the center of the national debate.
A sector on alert: 80 thousand vacancies without workers
According to the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOPN), the shortage of workers is the biggest challenge faced by the sector in recent decades.
“This lack of labor is already chronic, but it has reached alarming proportions in recent months,” said Manuel Reis Campos, president of AICCOPN, in an interview with Column Portugal Giro, signed by Gian Amaro in the newspaper The Globe.
Campos stressed that the shortage of workers directly affects companies' ability to carry out important works, including those financed by the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).
“Without an urgent solution, we will have significant delays in essential projects, which harms not only the Portuguese economy, but also the country's credibility before the European Union,” warned.
According to AICCOPN, the 80 thousand vacancies include roles such as bricklayers, electricians, plumbers and specialized engineers.
Most positions require technical qualifications or experience, but there are also opportunities for workers without prior training.
The role of immigration as a strategic solution
Given this scenario, the sector is betting on immigration as an immediate alternative. “Immigration must be seen as a strategic solution, not only to resolve the labor shortage, but to ensure the competitiveness of the sector,” explained Campos.
He advocates a more efficient and less bureaucratic approach to the regularization of immigrants who wish to work in Portugal.
Among AICCOPN’s proposals is the creation of a “green lane” for companies in the construction sector. This initiative would aim to reduce bureaucracy and speed up the legalization processes for foreign workers.
Furthermore, the association suggests implementing a pre-authorization of residence for immigrants with guaranteed job offers and simplifying the recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications obtained outside Portugal.
Billion-dollar projects under threat
The crisis in the construction industry is not just a sectoral problem. It has significant repercussions for the Portuguese economy as a whole.
The Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, highlighted, in recent statements to Parliament, that the works financed by the PRR are among those most affected by the shortage of labor.
“We are talking about crucial projects for the country’s development, ranging from road infrastructure to improvements in hospitals and schools,” stated Almeida.
He warned that delays in the execution of these works could compromise the use of European funds, which have strict deadlines for application.
In addition to the PRR, the lack of workers also affects private projects, such as residential and commercial construction.
“The real estate market, which is already facing challenges related to rising material costs, is also suffering from a shortage of professionals,” explained Campos.
The burden of working conditions
But why does the sector have such difficulty attracting local workers? One answer lies in working conditions.
“Construction is known for its intense working hours and the physical effort required, which makes it unattractive for many Portuguese workers,” pointed out the president of AICCOPN.
Furthermore, the salaries offered are not always competitive, especially when compared to other sectors.
This reality drives away qualified professionals and forces companies to look for alternatives in the international market.
Solutions under debate
To face this crisis, the Portuguese government and industry associations are discussing a series of measures.
Among the most promising is the implementation of policies that facilitate the entry and permanence of immigrants in the country.
Another initiative involves the creation of professional training programs aimed at the construction sector.
These programs would have as objective to train workers locals and immigrants to meet specific market demands.
“The combination of more agile migration policies and qualification programs could be the key to solving this problem in the medium and long term,” stated Castro Almeida.
Economic and social impact of regularization
Regularizing immigrants is not only a solution to the labor shortage, but also an economic opportunity.
“The integration of foreign workers into the formal market generates direct benefits, such as increased tax revenue and a reduction in informal work,” highlighted Campos.
Furthermore, the presence of immigrants contributes to cultural diversification and the enrichment of local communities.
“Immigrants bring not only labor, but also new perspectives and knowledge that strengthen the sector,” completed.
The future of construction in Portugal
With a sector in crisis and billion-dollar projects at stake, Portugal faces a decisive moment.
The way the country deals with the lack of labor in the construction industry can define not only the future of the sector, but also the pace of economic recovery in the coming years.
The big question remains: given so many opportunities in the construction industry and policies that can facilitate regularization, would you move to Portugal to work and take advantage of the open positions?
I would like to go to Portugal to work
Good evening, I loved this opportunity, for sure. My husband and I and my two daughters, including one of my daughters who is a qualified nursing technician and a qualified teacher, would love to move to Portugal and take advantage of this work opportunity, it would be wonderful!!!
I am a pharmacist and would like to work in Portugal. Do you know if there are any vacancies? And the salary?