The lack of labor in the construction industry is already well-known, but a less visible effect worries companies: the loss of knowledge during the execution of projects, points out a specialist.

Written by Valdemar Medeiros

Published on 09/04/2026 at 20:35

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Labor shortage hits 41.6% of contractors and exposes new risk in construction: loss of knowledge

The labor shortage in the construction industry has ceased to be a sporadic problem and has begun to directly affect the execution capacity of projects in Brazil. According to the construction survey by FGV IBRE, 41.6% of companies reported, in February 2026, the lack of professionals as a limiting factor for business, the highest level for the month since 2011. The impact is already visible in the daily operations of construction sites. According to the research Panorama of Labor in Brazilian Construction by Grua Insights, 75% of companies had to revise project deadlines in recent months due to the shortage of professionals.

Turnover in the construction industry causes loss of technical knowledge and compromises continuity of projects

In practice, the problem goes beyond the difficulty of hiring. One of the most critical effects observed by companies is the loss of knowledge throughout the execution of projects.

In many cases, technical decisions, alignments with suppliers, and execution criteria remain concentrated in the individual memory of professionals. When there is a team replacement, this history is lost, and the project begins to operate as if it were being restarted.

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Lack of standardization and information management increases rework, costs, and delays in construction

The impact of turnover tends to be more intense in the construction industry due to the sequential and interdependent nature of activities.

Unlike sectors with continuous processes, construction projects depend on a precise sequence of stages, with multiple suppliers acting at specific moments. When there is a breakdown in information, the effect is immediate.

Each new professional needs to reconstruct the project context, understand previous decisions, and reevaluate technical criteria, while the operation begins to react to problems instead of anticipating them.

“You lose speed, lose consistency, and start putting out fires. And this has a direct impact on deadlines and costs,” explains Bárbara.

Rework, renegotiation, and loss of efficiency show direct impact of lack of project memory

In practice, the lack of continuity translates into rework, renegotiation with suppliers, and reinterpretation of decisions already made.

In some cases, companies turn to external partners to recover information that was not recorded internally.

“The supplier ends up becoming the memory of the project,” says Bárbara, highlighting one of the main operational risks of the absence of structured management.

Construction begins to migrate from people-based model to process-based model

In light of this scenario, companies in the sector are beginning to review their operational structure. The main change is the transition from a people-based model to a process-based model. This involves recording decisions, organizing information in an accessible way, and reducing dependence on individual knowledge.

The proposal is to transform the project memory into a structured asset, capable of ensuring continuity even with team changes.

“Projects that depend on people are fragile. Projects that depend on processes are resilient,” summarizes Bárbara.

Technology in construction gains space to ensure continuity and reduce dependence on teams

This movement also drives the adoption of digital management tools.

Solutions that consolidate schedules, decision histories, and technical documentation in a single environment are being used to ensure predictability and operational continuity.

The goal is to reduce dependence on emails, isolated spreadsheets, and the individual memory of professionals.

Construction management platforms like Workemp organize information and reduce impact of turnover

Among the solutions adopted is Workemp, a platform developed from Kemp’s experience in managing multiple simultaneous projects.

The tool organizes information, decisions, and technical records throughout the execution, allowing projects to maintain consistency even with team changes.

“When information is organized, the departure of someone ceases to be a collapse and becomes a transition,” says Bárbara.

Bárbara Kemp, architect and co-founder of Kemp Project and Construction Management.

Investments in technology and management grow to face labor shortage in construction

This trend follows a broader movement in the sector. According to Grua Insights, most companies are already planning to increase investments in technology and management methodologies, seeking to reduce dependence on labor and improve project predictability.

This scenario is also connected to a structural problem in global construction. Studies by McKinsey and PMI indicate that most construction projects face delays and budget overruns, resulting from low predictability, coordination failures, and fragmented management.

Loss of control in projects becomes central challenge in a strategic sector for the Brazilian economy

In an environment marked by a shortage of professionals and high turnover, the challenge is no longer just to hire and retain labor.

The central issue becomes ensuring that knowledge remains in the project. When decisions are lost, teams change without transition, and history is not preserved, projects enter cycles of rework, with longer deadlines, higher costs, and loss of predictability.

In a sector that represents a significant share of the Brazilian economy, this type of inefficiency compromises not only companies but the competitiveness of the entire market.

“Today, as challenging as losing professionals is, losing control is just as difficult,” concludes Bárbara.

Now we want to know: is the Brazilian construction industry prepared to reduce dependence on labor and migrate to process-based management?

In light of a scenario of structural shortage of professionals and increasing complexity of projects, the adoption of processes and technology becomes a decisive factor for the future of the sector.

In your view, will this transformation be enough to solve the bottlenecks in the construction industry, or is the problem likely to worsen in the coming years?

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The lack of labor in the construction industry is already well-known, but a less visible effect worries companies: the loss of knowledge during the execution of projects, points out a specialist.

Labor shortage hits 41.6% of contractors and exposes new risk in construction: loss of knowledge

Turnover in the construction industry causes loss of technical knowledge and compromises continuity of projects

Lack of standardization and information management increases rework, costs, and delays in construction

Rework, renegotiation, and loss of efficiency show direct impact of lack of project memory

Construction begins to migrate from people-based model to process-based model

Technology in construction gains space to ensure continuity and reduce dependence on teams

Construction management platforms like Workemp organize information and reduce impact of turnover

Investments in technology and management grow to face labor shortage in construction

Loss of control in projects becomes central challenge in a strategic sector for the Brazilian economy

Now we want to know: is the Brazilian construction industry prepared to reduce dependence on labor and migrate to process-based management?

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The lack of labor in the construction industry is already well-known, but a less visible effect worries companies: the loss of knowledge during the execution of projects, points out a specialist.

Labor shortage hits 41.6% of contractors and exposes new risk in construction: loss of knowledge

Turnover in the construction industry causes loss of technical knowledge and compromises continuity of projects

Lack of standardization and information management increases rework, costs, and delays in construction

Rework, renegotiation, and loss of efficiency show direct impact of lack of project memory

Construction begins to migrate from people-based model to process-based model

Technology in construction gains space to ensure continuity and reduce dependence on teams

Construction management platforms like Workemp organize information and reduce impact of turnover

Investments in technology and management grow to face labor shortage in construction

Loss of control in projects becomes central challenge in a strategic sector for the Brazilian economy

Now we want to know: is the Brazilian construction industry prepared to reduce dependence on labor and migrate to process-based management?

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Spain surprises the world by erecting 62 artificial dunes, mixing sand with natural remains of posidonia, and causing the structure to lose only 1.4% of its volume in 1 year.

After two years of internal discussions, Paraguay has finally regulated the law that opens the country to foreign technology and service companies with tax incentives that promise to create thousands of jobs and change the economy.

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