Construction would have a problem without Ukrainians; their departure would be a complication

Prague – Without Ukrainian employees, the problems in the Czech construction industry would deepen. This was stated by representatives of professional associations contacted by ČTK. In an industry that has long been struggling with a shortage of workers, Ukrainians make up about one-tenth of the workforce, according to them. Therefore, their potential departure after the end of the war with Russia would be a complication for construction companies. Czech builders could also, thanks to their experiences with Ukrainians, be more involved in the country's reconstruction and gain new contracts there after the conflict ends.

Ukrainians had been working in construction in the Czech Republic even before the war, which began on February 24, 2022. With the subsequent increase in the influx of Ukrainian refugees, their number in the sector grew further. According to data from the Association of Entrepreneurs in Construction (SPS), approximately 415,000 people currently work in the sector, with citizens of Ukraine making up about 40,000 of that number. They work in various positions from laborers to skilled craftsmen. The association estimates that within five years, up to 75,000 workers could be missing in construction.

"If Ukrainians were not here, the situation would be significantly more complicated. It is important to openly say that Czech workers are not queuing for construction jobs. The potential departure of some Ukrainian workers would therefore have an unequivocally negative impact on the sector," stated SPS President Jiří Nouza.

The chairman of the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians in Construction (ČKAIT), Robert Špalek, sees the situation similarly. According to him, there are only dozens of Ukrainians working in engineering or qualified technical professions. However, without the participation of workers from Ukraine, there would be a significant problem with the shortage of craftsmen and employees needed in the supply chains in the Czech Republic.

"I believe that many construction projects would come to a halt without Ukrainian workers. If there were a massive, cumulative departure of technicians, craftsmen, laborers, and partially even designers back to Ukraine, some parts of the construction industry would find it difficult to cope," added Špalek.

According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, at the end of last year, there were 393,056 people under temporary protection allowing Ukrainian war refugees access to public health insurance, education, or the labor market. In recent years, the Czech Republic has been struggling with housing accessibility. However, none of the experts contacted indicated that the influx of Ukrainian refugees had a significant impact on deepening the crisis. Although they noted that a larger influx of Ukrainians could increase the demand for rental housing, professional associations did not record Ukrainian refugees purchasing apartments for investment purposes that would consequently affect housing price increases.

According to Špalek, after the war in Ukraine ends, there will be strong demand for the construction of water management and energy facilities, bridge structures, and transport infrastructure. The chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects, Jan Kasl, stated that Czech companies may want to use Ukrainians trained in the Czech Republic to lead local projects in Ukraine. "The trained local Ukrainian capacities could be a competitive advantage for Czech construction," said Kasl. He also added that there is a large stock of construction materials and raw materials in Ukraine, which could be imported to the Czech Republic after the war ends.