The local construction sector is already facing a labor force crisis and workers’ wages could double in the next three years, said yesterday Cristian Erbasu, the president of the Construction Employers’ Federation (FPSC), reports local Capital.ro.

In 2008, Romania’s construction sector had 450,000 employees. The number has dropped to 300,000 or even fewer in the present, Erbasu explained. Most skilled workers still immigrate to Western Europe.

If the EU-financed infrastructure projects kick off, Romania may need about 500,000 workers in constructions in 2019 - 2020. Erbasu said that these workers can be brought from other fields and be specialized in constructions. Another source could be people from outside the EU. However, Romania is still not ready to do this, at least from a legal point of view.

The labor force crisis in the construction sector will lead to wage increases in this sector. In two-three years, salaries in constructions will double. The average wage is now at about EUR 500. In the next years, it will grow to at least EUR 800, according to Erbasu.

editor@romania-insider.com