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The Construction Industry in Espírito Santo Is Facing a Severe Labor Crisis. With the Sector in Collapse, the State Seeks a Revolutionary Solution in China.
The shortage of labor continues to be a major challenge for the construction sector in Espírito Santo, but surprisingly, the solution may come from distant lands: Chinese technology.
At this moment, industry entrepreneurs, including the president of the Union of the Construction Industry of the State (Sinduscon-ES), Douglas Vaz, are seeking innovative alternatives to tackle the crisis in the labor market.
Recently, the businessman traveled to China to participate in the International Mission Shanghai 2025, an initiative aimed at bringing Brazil closer to the most advanced technological solutions, with stops in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
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For the economist José Kobori, the USA gained a trump card to “blackmail” Brazil and undermine China’s influence by classifying the PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorists, increasing the power to pressure companies, banks, and even Pix.
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The labor shortage has changed its face in Brazil: companies hire 80% more, but workers stay only 6.8 months in the job, the service market becomes a “revolving door,” and businesses spend increasingly more to train teams that soon leave.
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Chinese giant chooses SC to set up its first factory in Brazil, investing R$ 250 million and producing MRI machines costing R$ 10 million each, with 100 direct jobs and 5% of revenue allocated to research.
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After selling a unit for R$ 115 million to pay off debts, a traditional factory in SC founded in 1932 has a new R$ 64.8 million plan denied by the court and retains about 690 workers in Joinville.
During the mission, Brazilian entrepreneurs, including Vaz, aim to discover how the Asian country has solved its own problems in the engineering sector and how these solutions could be implemented in Espírito Santo.
The focus, in particular, is on technologies that replace manual labor, reducing reliance on traditional labor.
Technology as a Solution for the Sector
According to Sinduscon-ES Vice President Leandro Lorenzon, the main challenge for the construction industry in the state is gradually replacing manual labor with more efficient and technological solutions.
“The idea is to bring technology that increasingly replaces the need for manual labor,” says Lorenzon.
With the modernization of construction processes, new technologies are being tested, such as the use of 3D printers, automation, and more advanced systems for prefabrication of materials, which can reduce the need for workers on construction sites, but still require professionals to be trained to handle these new tools.
The lack of interest among young people in entering the construction industry is a factor that further exacerbates the labor shortage.
This is largely due to the devaluation of manual labor, especially among new generations, who seek more profitable and less physically demanding alternatives.
The aging population, combined with the lack of skilled professionals, is making the replacement of labor a growing problem, which directly impacts the cost of construction and consequently the final price of properties.
The Impact of Labor Shortage on the Sector’s Economy
The phenomenon of lack of professionals can also affect inflation in the construction sector.
According to Lorenzon, the increase in labor costs directly reflects on the price of properties, making construction more expensive and reducing the competitiveness of the local market.
“Young people, with more profitable and less labor-intensive alternatives, no longer have ambition for the construction industry, harming the replacement. This will somehow reflect in the cost of labor and consequently in property prices,” explains the Sinduscon-ES vice president.
In addition to replacing manual labor, the sector seeks to modernize construction sites.
With the use of prefabricated items and industrialized products, the construction industry can minimize the presence of human labor on site.
The concept of “industrialization” in construction involves creating a more automated environment, where the production of various components takes place off-site, allowing for greater speed and efficiency in construction.
Challenges in Professional Training
However, even with technological innovations, the sector still faces the challenge of professional training.
The implementation of these new technologies requires workers to be properly trained to operate them, which can demand time and investment.
For the sector to adapt to technological changes, a continuous process of training new professionals will be necessary.
“If we’re talking about a 3D printer, for example, I need to have the printer to train the person to use it. But in the meantime, other smaller functions are also occurring,” highlights Lorenzon.
In other words, even if technology reduces the need for labor in heavy tasks, training new professionals will continue to be essential for the sector.
Valuation of the Real Estate Market in Espírito Santo
While the construction industry seeks technological solutions for its labor challenges, the real estate market in Espírito Santo is experiencing a phase of significant appreciation.
In Vitória, the state’s capital, the price per square meter increased an impressive 23.51% between 2023 and 2024, according to data from the Sinduscon-ES Real Estate Census.
This increase reflects a growing appreciation of the market, which has registered higher prices for new properties, especially in high-standard areas.
Luxury properties, with four bedrooms or more, have also seen a significant increase, reaching R$ 21,114 per square meter, a rise of 31.96% compared to last year.
This price growth has raised concerns about the affordability of the market for the local population, as more expensive properties are increasingly out of reach for a considerable portion of buyers.
In contrast, in Vila Velha, the city neighboring the capital, the real estate market had a more modest appreciation.
In the past two years, the increase was only 5.55% for high-end properties and 11.95% considering all types of apartments.
Even with lower growth, this appreciation still reflects the increasing demand in the region’s real estate sector.
The Future of Construction: Adapting to the Digital Age
The construction industry in Espírito Santo is on the brink of a technological revolution, but changes take time.
The implementation of advanced technologies, such as 3D printing and automation, is essential to tackle the lack of skilled labor, but the challenge of training new professionals and adapting the market to these changes cannot be underestimated.
The future of the construction industry, with the use of Chinese technologies and other innovations, looks promising, but will only be viable with a continuous effort in training and adaptation.
In the meantime, the real estate market remains heated, and construction prices continue to rise, reflecting the impact of the labor shortage and the new demands of the sector.
Do you believe that the adoption of advanced technologies can truly replace the labor shortage in the construction industry, or will the challenge of professional training be a difficult obstacle to overcome? Share your opinion in the comments!
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