Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
12 comments 
Aging Of Skilled Labor Generates Crisis In The Construction Industry! Lack Of Interest From Young People Threatens The Future Of The Sector And Intensifies The Scarcity Of Specialized Professionals.
Construction Crisis: The Brazilian construction industry is facing a significant challenge: while the demand for works remains strong, there is a growing scarcity of skilled labor due to the aging of professionals in the sector. Data from the Union of the Construction Industry of the State of São Paulo (SindusCon-SP) indicates that, between 2016 and 2023, the average age of workers in the construction industry increased from 38 to 41 years. This aging pressures costs and threatens the productivity of companies.
One of the factors contributing to this trend is the lack of interest from young people in the profession, possibly due to the physical demands and working conditions on construction sites. In this article, we will explore the causes of this phenomenon and its implications for the future of construction in the country.
Understand The Crisis In The Construction Industry Generated By The Aging Of Skilled Labor
According to data from Sinduscon-SP (Union of the Construction Industry of the State of São Paulo), sector costs have accumulated a rise of 6.54% in the last year, with labor leading the increases at 8.56%. Meanwhile, materials rose by 5.34% and services by 3.66%.
-
Scientists use sawdust mixed with clay to create a lighter brick, promising efficient thermal insulation and impressing by transforming waste into a solution for construction.
-
With a DNA shape, this bridge in Singapore draws attention in modern architecture and surprises tourists by transforming a simple crossing into an unforgettable visual experience in the urban heart.
-
Giant underwater pipeline begins to take shape with a R$ 134.7 million project at the Port of Santos: the 1.7 km structure uses 12-meter and 700 mm pipes to supply water to 450,000 people in Guarujá.
-
A mason reveals a professional plastering technique that uses aligned guides and a 3-meter ruler to plaster an entire wall in up to 3 hours, without visible seams, with uniform thickness, perfect plumb, and a finish ready for painting without rework.
The Basic Unit Cost (CUB) of the sector in São Paulo, a reference in the country, reached R$ 2,039.53 per m² amidst the crisis in construction in December, with an increase of 3.49% in 2023.
For this year, the expectation is for new increases, driven mainly by high interest rates, international prices of inputs such as steel, and especially by the aging of skilled labor, which generates a lack of professionals.
The problem of aging labor in construction goes beyond the numbers. The average age of workers in the sector is 42 years, according to David Fratel, coordinator of Sinduscon-SP. Fratel mentions that productivity among professionals begins to decline at this age, especially when the demand for construction is high, leading to a crisis in the construction industry.
Scarcity Of Professionals: Young People Are Not Interested In The Construction Industry
To contribute to the aging of skilled labor, the construction industry does not attract young people, and careers such as bricklayer and carpenter, which can yield more than R$ 10,000 monthly, face resistance due to lack of technical training and poor working conditions.
One of the critical points for the crisis in the construction industry is the informality of contracts. The Sintracon-SP (Union of Workers) reports that productivity-based payments, common in the sector, are not recorded in the employment contract, failing to collect FGTS and INSS. These practices are illegal and negatively impact workers’ rights.
For the year 2026, business owners estimate that there will be inflationary pressures on two fronts. The first will be on materials and equipment, which should be impacted by rising interest rates that increase credit costs, as well as the price of steel, which is linked to global demand and the dollar.
In second place is labor, considering that the lack of qualification and the aging of labor in the construction industry should keep costs high, without necessarily improving workers’ income.
Possible Solutions For The Aging Of Labor In The Construction Industry
To avoid the crisis in the construction industry, unions and companies are betting on partnerships. With this, new technical courses with Senai provide training in areas such as masonry and electrical work. Meanwhile, vocational high school is a partnership with the Education Secretariat of São Paulo and will bring training in construction to public schools by 2025.
The unified career plan, an initiative under discussion in the sector’s negotiation forum, aims to offer stability and salary progression to attract young people.
The construction industry is reinventing itself, and the goal of these initiatives is to show that it is possible to have a career with dignity and good salaries. It is worth mentioning that, according to data from the General Register of Employed and Unemployed (CAGED), the sector recorded the closing of more than 30,000 jobs in November 2024.
A grande maioria faz isso, inclusive essas grandes construtoras listadas na bolsa praticamente através da terceirização do trabalho em ambientes degradantes, o ministério do Trabalho precisa tirar a **** da cadeira e fazer jus aos salários extratosfericos e começaram a fiscalizar obras sem ter que fiquem denunciando para isso, mas como sempre tem status de ministério deitam e rolam, fazem suas própria leis, pais de terceiro mundo é isso mesmo
E mentira que um pedreiro podia ganhar 10.000 por mês pagam uma miséria o serviço e pessado demais se futuro está profissão eu sou pedreiro a 30 anos sou um bom profissional e não tenho valor nenhum sempre iricando os patrões que só reclamam vendedo suas casas por milhões e você fica com as migalhas
No meu ponto de vista é falta de oportunidade para os jovens, a quantidade de funcionários aposentados que ainda estão trabalhando é imensurável pois não consta no sistema de dados do governo… Uma vaga que deveria esta sendo de um jovem.