In one year, 10 percent more construction trades have opened, and these trades have raised prices the most

Information about the lack of qualified workers is arriving daily from all sides to business weekly publications like Lider. As many as 24,500 workers in skilled professions and 5,800 engineers in construction, architecture, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering are needed for the energy renovation of buildings in the coming year. This is confirmed by the results of research conducted within the EU co-financed project ‘CRO skills RELOAD’, carried out by the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Zagreb in cooperation with partners – the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, the Croatian Council for Green Building, the Regional Energy Agency North, and the Community of Construction Schools of the Republic of Croatia.

If we also take into account the reconstruction from the earthquakes (which is still ongoing) and the remediation of damages from the recent storms that hit Croatia, the numbers are even higher.

Nevertheless, the number of trades in construction is 10 percent or 901 trades higher compared to June last year. In total, there are 9,641 trades employing 13,563 workers, and over the past five years, there has been a 48 percent increase in trades in construction.

There are still not enough craftsmen

The largest number of construction trades, 1,248, is located in Split-Dalmatia County, which also records the highest numerical growth compared to last year, with 150 more trades or 13.7 percent more. It is followed by Istria County with 1,151 construction trades and a growth of almost 10 percent in the last year and 102 more trades, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar with a total of 989 trades in construction and a growth of 8 percent and 72 more trades. The City of Zagreb and Zagreb County together have 1,563 active trades in the construction sector, achieving a growth of 12.8 percent and 177 more trades in the past year.

– Despite the 10 percent growth in construction trades and an overall increase of as much as 8 percent, there are not enough craftsmen due to high market demand and the need for reconstruction and remediation of damages at several locations in Croatia. As I constantly emphasize – craftsmen have never been more sought after, better paid, and more valued – emphasizes Dalibor Kratohvil, president of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.

Prices raised the most by tilers

A survey conducted by the portal Trebam.hr in July this year on 534 craftsmen and entrepreneurs from all over Croatia showed that four out of five craftsmen raised their service prices, with the highest increases among tilers, renovation and adaptation companies, facade workers, and electricians.

Practically all bathroom adaptation contractors and roofers who participated in the survey raised their prices, as did nine out of ten builders, tilers, air conditioning installers, carpenters, and apartment adaptation companies. The highest price increases were recorded by bathroom adaptation contractors (a quarter by more than 30 percent) and apartment adaptation contractors (almost half by more than 20 percent) and tilers (a quarter by more than 30 percent).

—

photo Trebam.hr

—

However, the survey revealed that the main reason for the price increase is the rise in the prices of raw materials and materials. This is followed by the increase in electricity and fuel prices and the introduction of the euro.

In addition to craftsmen, builders, and craftsmen for energy solutions, the portal this time included providers of business and other services in the survey. Among other services, catering prices increased the most, while cleaning and accounting service prices increased the least.

Just under half of craftsmen and entrepreneurs plan to raise prices in the coming months.

Young people, happiness is in your skilled hands

To address the problem of the lack of qualified workers in construction, the Zagreb Chamber of Trades will launch professional development projects and update the database for that sector this autumn.

In the past three years, a total of 375 professional qualification exams have been passed in occupations from the construction sector, with the highest number of tilers, totaling 300 over the three-year period. In the same period, 144 master exams were passed in occupations from the construction sector, with the highest number of painters (56) and bricklayers (44), and the least roofers (5).

However, Kratohvil confirms that public awareness of the increasing demand (and pay) for craftsmen is growing stronger, especially among parents and young people, thus increasing interest in vocational occupations.

– For example, in the 2022/2023 school year, there was an increase in enrollments in the occupations of bricklayer and facade worker, along with a continuously high interest in heating and air conditioning installers and home installations, plumbers, and electrical installers. I urge young people to choose vocational occupations – success, as well as professional and personal happiness, is almost entirely in your skilled hands – concludes Kratohvil.