The building crafts industry returned in the first half to a level of activity similar to the pre-health crisis, but remains threatened by shortages of raw materials, the main organization of the sector announced on Tuesday.
"
It's exceptional when we see the year 2020 which has passed,
" Jean-Christophe Repon, president of the Confederation of Crafts and Small Building Enterprises (Capeb), who remains however vigilant because, he says, “
growth is very fragile
”.
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According to the organization, the activity of the sector, which ranges from the construction of houses to energy renovation, increased by 0.5% compared to the first half of 2019. In comparison to the second quarter of 2020, this growth reached + 37% .
Last year, the activity of building craftsmen had indeed experienced a historic collapse, with the significant halt to construction sites during the first confinement.
So much so that in July 2020, Capeb feared to lose at least 20,000 jobs.
Salaried employment in the construction industry up 3.8% year on year
“In the
end, we did not lose jobs,
” rejoices Jean-Christophe Repon, who even claims the creation of 26,000 jobs in construction companies with fewer than 20 employees between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. In the first half of the year, 18% of craft businesses sought to recruit and 14% succeeded. Salaried employment in the construction industry thus increased by 3.8% over one year despite a “
lack of qualified labor
”.
The building crafts activity was driven by energy renovation, up 3.3% in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2019. In general, the Maintenance-Renovation branch is growing ( + 2.2%).
"
Confinement and teleworking have pushed the French to change their habitat, to live better there
", analyzes Jean-Christophe Repon.
On the other hand, the New Construction activity has not returned to its pre-crisis level, and remains down 1.8% compared to the first half of 2019.
Shortage and rising prices
Another downside: the difficulties of supplying wood, metals and electronic components which risk causing delays in the construction sites.
"
76% of craft building companies report an increase in the price of materials and 57% of supply disruptions
", according to a survey conducted by Capeb in partnership with the research service provider Xerfi,
Masonry companies are the most affected: 67% of them notice supply difficulties.
These difficulties then lead to occasional delays for 67% of the craft construction companies.
Changes of distributors or postponements of worksites can also be deplored in rarer cases.
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The rise in prices does not spare artisans who are forced to cut their margins.
Only 26% of them manage to pass the increase in costs on to the price of services.
Ultimately, this percentage should increase with direct repercussions on customers.