Spain’s housing shortage isn’t just about land, regulation or financing. A silent but critical bottleneck is emerging: the ageing of the construction workforce and the lack of young replacements.
A greying workforce
According to BBVA Research, the average age of workers in construction has risen from 37 in 2007 to over 45 today – almost double the ageing rate of the Spanish economy as a whole. Only 16% of construction workers are under 34, compared to 32% before the financial crisis. At the other end of the spectrum, one in five is now over 58.
This demographic imbalance is stark. Industry sources estimate Spain needs between 700,000 and 800,000 new workers to meet current demand, but far more are retiring than entering the trade. The financial crisis of 2008 triggered an exodus from construction and left a lingering perception of precarious, unattractive jobs. Despite higher wages today, young people are steering clear.
Delays and higher prices
The shortage of skilled labour is already hitting the market. Developers report delays of up to a year in completing projects due to lack of staff, meaning fewer homes reach the market each year. In turn, this bottleneck exacerbates Spain’s chronic undersupply, intensifying upward pressure on house prices and worsening affordability for younger households.
Prefabricated housing is sometimes mentioned as an alternative, but it remains a niche. For now, the reality is that without masons, electricians, and other skilled trades, Spain simply cannot build its way out of the housing crisis.
The road ahead
The construction sector faces an urgent need to attract a new generation of workers with better training, conditions and prestige. Unless it succeeds, the next decade of retirements could cripple Spain’s ability to increase housing supply – making the problem of high prices and scarcity even more entrenched.
