Recruitment in the construction industry: 2018 will be a good year

For two years now, the economic climate seems to have returned to the construction industry which is recruiting in leaps and bounds. Indeed, construction is picking up again, and several sectors seem to be particularly buoyant. These include safety and building inspection.

Favorable economic conditions for construction

In 2017, the construction industry enjoyed its first positive year since 2008, with 21,300 additional jobs. And for 2018, the employment outlook is good: the Fédération Française du Bâtiment estimates that 30,000 jobs will be created this year. The Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics (FNTP), for its part, is betting on a +4% upturn in activity, thanks in particular to work on the transport section of the Grand Paris, the Nouveau Programme de Rénovation Urbaine (NPNRU) and private contracting. Our firm currently lists 58 vacancies for engineers in the construction and public works sector: consult them here.

12% more executives

According to a recent study by APEC, construction companies are expected to hire nearly 13,220 managers in 2018, 12% more than the previous year. All sectors combined, private sector companies will recruit between 248,000 and 271,000 executives this year, representing an increase of between 3% and 13% compared to 2017.

Which management positions in the construction industry interest you? To find out, you can consult nos fiches métier.

Security-related positions are in demand

Among the most sought-after professions are those relating to safety and technical control. And among them, experienced and quickly operational people. The reason for this is that technical inspections have become compulsory by regulation, and insurers are increasingly demanding. In particular, we're hiring CTC engineers. Specialist building engineers and technicians, as well as team managers, are also in high demand. Just the thing, Alphéa Conseil has many job offers for these positions.

Tailored training

Given the high demand in the sector and the lack of suitable candidates, Pôle Emploi has set up adapted apprenticeship programs. It finances long training courses, up to 1000 hours and which can go up to Master's level.

On the other hand, specialized schools are increasingly training young people in the construction sector. Like, for example, L'École spéciale des travaux publics, du bâtiment et de l'industrie (ESTP) in Paris, which announces that it has trained not less than 120 new works supervisors in 2017. Of these young graduates, 30% have already found work, and 83% of them in the construction sector.

Which companies and regions are recruiting?

Among the companies that are hiring, there are of course the heavyweights like Bouygues, Vinci or Eiffage. But lesser-known companies like Léon Grosse, Icade Promotion or Socotec are looking for many candidates.

Currently, the four regions that are recruiting the most in construction are:

• Ile-de-France

• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

• PACA

• New Aquitania

But projects are planned all over the country, including overseas territories.

In conclusion

To sum up, the construction industry is booming and the jobs it offers are growing. It's a promising field with plenty of room for growth. Basically, all the cursors are in the green so, if you're tempted, don't hesitate to take the plunge.

Alphéa Conseil supports candidates in their job search, as well as construction companies. Want to find out more? Consult our offers.