The construction sector is undergoing a critical phase of transformation, driven by increasing demands for efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. At the heart of this landscape lies an increasingly evident reality: the shortage of skilled labour—particularly in core operational technical roles—whose absence jeopardises not only the pace of construction works but also the overall sustainability of the sector.

 

Deficit of Technical Professionals: The Silent Outcry of Construction Sites

Although the sector continues to play a fundamental role in the economy, with strong demand for residential, industrial and urban regeneration projects, construction sites are facing an increasingly pressing challenge – the difficulty in recruiting specialised technical professionals. This extends beyond engineers and designers, encompassing quantity surveyors, site supervisors, works planners, land surveyors, and planning technicians.

Often invisible to the general public, these professionals are the operational backbone that bridges project design and execution. Their absence disrupts the production chain, causes delays, increases costs, and compromises the overall quality of developments.

The Solution Lies in the Recognition and Development of Technical Skills

Despite their strategic importance in the construction sector, technical roles are still often perceived as lower-prestige career paths with limited opportunities. This perception must be challenged. Vocational and technical courses not only respond directly to the sector’s real conditions, but also offer solid career prospects, high employability rates, and the possibility of progressing to higher education in fields such as engineering, management, or architecture.

The future of construction depends on measures that elevate and acknowledge operational technical careers, which remain undervalued in the market. It is essential to:

• Strengthen technical and specialised training programmes, focusing on roles such as quantity surveyors, site supervisors, and works planners;
• Bring companies closer to educational institutions through internships and hands-on training schemes;
• Communicate the strategic importance of these professions, fostering a cultural shift within the industry.

 

Technical and vocational education stands as one of the most effective solutions to reverse the shortage of skilled labour and enhance the sector’s long-term sustainability. Specialised technical courses prepare professionals to operate directly in essential technical roles, equipping them for the challenges of today’s construction environment. They contribute to the sustainability of the sector through:

• Practical training aligned with market needs, equipping young professionals for roles such as quantity surveyors, site supervisors, and planners, with strong knowledge of current techniques and environmental standards;
• Promotion of digital and technological skills, supporting the adoption of innovative methodologies such as BIM and integrated construction management;
• Emphasis on environmental best practices, raising awareness among future professionals of the importance of resource efficiency and environmental impact reduction;
• Closer collaboration between education providers and industry through internships and joint projects, enabling training that reflects practical realities and aligns with sustainability goals.

The challenges facing the construction sector cannot be solved by technology or investment alone. It is crucial to recognise and value the professionals who connect the project to the site, the design to the execution, and the theory to the practice. Quantity surveyors, site supervisors, works planners, and technicians are the true faces of tangible progress in construction.

For this recognition to take root in a meaningful way, the role of companies is essential. Strengthening the link between industry and technical-vocational education—through internships, support for the creation of new courses, and the integration of trainees into real working environments—is a decisive strategy to attract, develop, and retain qualified talent.

 

Aware of this challenge, Castro Group has taken an active role in promoting technical training by partnering with Escola Profissional de Braga to launch the course in Quantity Surveying and Budgeting (Construction Project Management). This initiative supports the development of students both academically and through practical, real-world experience.

 

Strengthening the role of these professionals is, at once, a response to the labour shortage, a pathway to innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. Building the future begins with recognising those who make it possible. In this spirit, beyond welcoming interns, Castro Group will actively work to bridge the gap between technical-vocational education and the practical realities of the sector, promoting initiatives such as holding classes on its premises or directly on construction sites.

 

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