The construction sector is the leading industrial employer in Europe, representing 7.5% of total European employment and 28.1% of industrial employment in the European Union. The European construction sector comprises roughly 3.3 million construction firms, of which 95% have fewer than 20 workers and 93% fewer than 10. 

The construction industry is continuously changing and adapting to new challenges such as the greening and digitalization of our society, migration, demographic changes, need for affordable houses, … All these changes have a large impact on the construction industry, its labour market and of course its workers.

A fair and just environmental transition means that the burden of change is borne by all, that the benefits are shared by all, that those most vulnerable to change are protected, and that all conditions are fostered to ensure a socially responsible environmental transition.

Bilateral industrial relations between workers’ representatives and employers organizations or companies are inherently linked to good governance of the construction labour market. As the construction industry has many tspecific characteristics, the social partners are best placed the define the challenges and needs of the construction labour market.