2023 also ended under the banner of growth for the construction sector, while a slowdown in investments is expected for 2024
Press release
The construction sector saw steady expansion last year for the third consecutive year, with a 5% annual increase in production levels.
Growth due above all to investments in housing redevelopment, tax incentives and the public works sector, positively influenced by the PNRR and the closure of the 2014-2020 structural funds.
In just three years, investments in the construction sector have grown by around 75 billion, recovering a considerable part of the production gap caused by the more than ten-year crisis, which had led to a loss of 92 billion. Even in Calabria the sector has recorded considerable growth.
From the data in our possession, regarding the last 12 months, the picture of a healthy supply chain emerges. The number of companies active in Calabria grew to 3798 at the end of the year, an increase of 18.12% over 2021, the number of workers grew to 15,932 employees, with an increase of 29.48% compared to to 2021.
The number of hours worked also recorded a considerable increase, reaching 22,534,215 with an increase of 49.9% compared to 2021. An increase in hours worked, the result of national regulations which helped the sector (Superbonus 110%, Durc of congruity), which meant that Calabria reached the top positions for growth rate in Italy. A more than considerable growth rate but which, in our opinion, needs to be effectively supported.
At a local level, the province richest in companies active in the construction sector is Catanzaro (1299), up by +8.16% compared to 2021. Then followed by Cosenza with 1252 active companies, +17.82% compared to 2021, Reggio Calabria with 815 active companies, with an increase of 21.79% compared to 2021.
In a scenario increasingly dominated by “green” demand, the incentives put in place in recent years have produced these numbers and an increase in the demand for figures expert in the development of eco-sustainable strategies, in green design, in the limitation of energy consumption and CO2 emissions. A positive trend which, unfortunately, according to forecasts, should slow down during this year.
In fact, a slowdown is expected for 2024, with a drop in investments that should be around 7.5%, despite the great push (an increase of around 20% is expected) dictated by public works, on which it is necessary to accelerate to achieve the PNRR objectives especially in our Region.
The decline in investments is the direct consequence of the lack of expansive contribution of the extraordinary maintenance that the Calabria region so badly needs, which represents 40% of the market and is affected by the cessation of the credit transfer/invoice discount mechanism.
Simone Celebre
The General Secretary Fillea CGIL Calabria
