The year is coming to an end and the days are getting shorter for another couple of weeks. After that, a turn takes place in a brighter direction and the days slowly start to get longer. There is no promise of a quick turnaround in the gloomy situation of the construction industry. There are as many different estimates and predictions about when the construction cycle will pick up as there are forecasters. I myself have decided to stop guessing at that moment. However, I am sure that the turn will come sooner or later. Until then, you just have to try to get by. Economic fluctuations are not a new thing in our industry, there have always been ups and downs and there always will be. Even in worse times, you just have to know how to prepare when things are going well.
If the decline continues for a long time, we will lose skilled labor to other fields. Attracting workers who have moved to other sectors back into the construction industry may be an impossible task. In addition, the constant flow of bad news about the plight of the construction industry certainly does not help attract new talent to the industry. Many young people may reject the idea of training in the construction industry due to bad economic news. When the economy one day turns upward, we may have an unprecedented skills shortage on our hands. That's why we have to be able to communicate the industry's sustainability and a brighter future. The importance of building technology in people's everyday lives is growing all the time, and experts in the field will be needed in the future as well.
The central government has recognized the plight of our industry and reacted to it in the budget rush. However, the measures are not enough. The wish list would have included, among other things, increasing repair subsidies, extending energy subsidies for next year, and extending the household deduction to cover repairs of housing associations as well. Currently, owners of single-family houses and members of housing associations are in an unequal position. One can deduct the renovation done in taxation and the other cannot. The above-mentioned measures would certainly have had a positive effect on the cyclical situation of the sector and improved the employment situation.
Christmas is less than two weeks away. Traditionally, the world has to be built by Christmas, but hopefully after Christmas, the construction will continue and the light will start to be seen outside as well as in the seasons. However, at Christmas it is better to forget about work and spend time with family and loved ones and at most build Lego houses.
Have a peaceful Christmas and a successful New Year!
Mika Nikula
chairman
LVI-Technical Contractors LVI-TU ry
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