Dublin: Property Industry Ireland (PII) has warned that the government must recruit up to 100,000 additional construction workers over the next four years if it is to meet its national housing targets. The organisation said the construction workforce would need to expand by as much as 50 per cent by 2030 to deliver on current commitments.
Under the government’s housing strategy published in November, 300,000 new homes are to be built by 2031, requiring an average annual output of 50,000 homes from 2026 onwards. However, PII’s latest report states that the sector currently lacks the capacity to meet that level of demand.
At present, approximately 177,600 people are employed in Ireland’s construction industry. According to the report, between 95,000 and 110,000 additional roles will need to be filled to achieve the 300,000-home target.
PII also highlighted concerns over a significant skills shortage and an ageing workforce. The report noted that many skilled workers have sought employment abroad due to higher wages, contributing to labour shortages domestically. At the same time, housing shortages at home are seen as a barrier to attracting and retaining workers.
The under-representation of women in construction was identified as a further challenge. Women account for just 9 per cent of the sector’s workforce, with less than 1 per cent represented in skilled trades. The report pointed to persistent stereotypes about the industry as a deterrent to female participation.
To address capacity constraints, PII recommended greater adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to automate administrative processes, optimise project scheduling and reduce material waste. Such measures, it said, would allow workers to focus more directly on core construction activities.
The report also emphasised structural challenges within the industry. In 2022, 99 per cent of active construction enterprises employed fewer than 20 people, limiting their ability to invest in training, hire apprentices and adopt new technologies at scale. Smaller firms often lack the financial and administrative capacity to upskill staff or undertake large-scale investment.
Separately, an internal review by the Department of Housing, published shortly after the housing plan was announced, raised concerns about delays in planning approvals and warned that housing commencements could begin to slow from 2028.
Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that 36,284 new homes were completed last year — approximately 30 per cent below the average annual output required over the next five years to meet the Government’s stated target.
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