Construction across the region is facing a sharp shortfall that risks delaying the Edificant education infrastructure plan and other projects planned to be financed with European funds. Companies are taking steps to boost education and attract younger workers, a strategy expected to bear fruit in the medium term. However, urgent recruitment needs are driving Government discussions on implementing mechanisms to import foreign labor. Unions argue that improving working conditions will address much of the gap.
The shortage in the construction sector is a nationwide challenge, with an estimated 200,000 workers needed to meet company demand. Alicante is no exception, where firms report serious difficulties filling roles. Javier Gisbert, president of the Federation for Public and Utility Affairs (FOPA) in the region, cited a survey showing a need for about 10,000 workers. He notes, with emphasis, that summer departures worsened staffing shortages and that meeting project deadlines will be a substantial challenge.
Gisbert adds that needs will grow rapidly in the coming months as Edificant plan tenders move forward, European funding increases, and large projects such as a planned mega battery factory in Sagunto come online. He warns that only roughly 60% of European-financed work is completed annually, suggesting a future rise in funded activity and the potential for higher actual execution rates.
The head of FOPA regrets that younger Hispanic workers under 45 are hesitant to pursue construction careers, despite higher wage prospects in the sector. Unemployed individuals also appear not to be entering the workforce. There is a sense that older workers and women show less interest as the industry becomes more industrialized.
The Federation is negotiating with regional authorities to promote construction education and make the industry more appealing to youth. In negotiations, there is a push for vocational training and shorter courses that speed up entry into the labor market. To address urgent needs, the industry is also urging the Government to accelerate permits and adopt measures to allow importation of labor from origin countries in South America or Eastern regions.
Jesualdo Ros, general secretary of the Real Estate Contractors Association of Alicante (Provia), echoes this stance, highlighting ongoing efforts to use prefabricated elements in educational and work settings. He notes agreement on the need to bring in foreign labor, pointing out that this is a policy the government has already outlined for industries like construction, agriculture, and hospitality. Yet progress remains limited for now.
One in six workers in the community wants to change their job this year because of low wages
So what is the unions’ perspective on these developments? Yaissel Sánchez, secretary general of the UGT in l’Alacantí-Les Marines, observes that about 13,000 job seekers in construction are currently unemployed in the state, with roughly 5,000 having specialized skills. He argues that the sector needs active engagement with job seekers who are ready to work, and notes that the public employment services are not effectively connecting with the industry or offering satisfactory working and pay conditions.
Paco García, general secretary of CC OO, shares a similar concern about whether compensation and conditions meet expectations, questioning why people remain unemployed if the incentives are adequate.
Initiatives in Alicante include the City Council and Consell collaboration. FOPA continues to push construction education forward, with new training cycles announced for institutes in Altea and Ontinyent. The Alicante City Council plans to sign an agreement with FOPA via the Local Development Agency after discussions between the mayor and Gisbert. The goal is to prepare professionals ready to enter the workforce and support local industry.