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On Monday, Philippe Gautier, President of the Federation of Building and Public Works of the Alpes-Maritimes, accompanied by his Vice-President, Philippe Renaudi, presented to the press the results of the year 2015 and the outlook for the coming year.
The results for 2015 are marked by the loss of 800 jobs in the profession. The construction sector in the Alpes-Maritimes went from 25,000 employees at the end of 2011 to 21,900 at the end of 2015, representing a 12.4% reduction in its workforce over four years.
The public works and road sectors have continued to be affected by the budgetary situation of local authorities and the decrease in state funding, a lack of visibility that has been ongoing for four years. After a 22% decline in 2014, the volume of public works tenders dropped by another 0.5% this year in the department.
The maintenance and renovation sector was the only one to remain stable in 2015. According to President Philippe Gautier, “this stability remains disappointing given the potential represented by the work to be carried out in the energy renovation sector.”
Beyond the economic and social consequences, the reduction in the number of apprentices in training centers is a major issue. Fewer and fewer young people are being trained in construction trades, particularly in masonry, painting, and metal locksmithing. “The CFB in Antibes, which five years ago trained more than 1,200 young people per year, now hosts 800,” lamented the President.
Unfair competition continues to take hold and becomes a real problem. The same applies to the auto-entrepreneur status, which generates “under-the-table work” and the rise in foreign companies that do not comply with French labor legislation.
Outlook for 2016
Despite a disappointing 2015, the president has “hope for 2016,” especially in the housing sector, which should finally pick up. The extension of the PINEL scheme is a tax benefit reserved for rental investors, attracting new buyers in 2016, thanks to the significant amount of tax reduction it generates (between 12% and 21% of the acquisition).
The maintenance and renovation sector will likely see a renewed dynamic due to the retention of reduced VAT rates (5.5% for energy renovation works and 10% for other works).
For President Philippe Gautier and Vice-President Philippe Renaudi, this new year of 2016 looks promising: “The construction sector could see a stabilization of activity in 2016 in the Alpes-Maritimes but should continue to lose an additional 200 to 300 jobs, mainly in the public works and road sector.”
