Morocco’s Construction Sector Faces Labor Shortage Amid World Cup Preparations

According to professionals in the sector, this labor shortage is due to the attractive salaries and mission allowances paid on the sites related to the 2030 World Cup, mentioning increases of 30% compared to other sites. Thus, a steel fixer for example, a very sought-after profile for the construction of stadiums and hotels, earns 4,300 dirhams, reports Hespress. To overcome this difficulty, construction companies have had to recruit labor among sub-Saharan migrants or in rural areas. To attract this workforce, they offer attractive contracts, including housing and affiliation to the CNSS. An offer that nevertheless induces additional costs related to the training of the new recruits.

In addition, the shortage of skilled labor leads to overexploitation of the available workers, affecting their productivity, and causes delays in the delivery of construction sites. "The building and public works sector in Morocco is facing major challenges that threaten the progress of projects and compliance with delivery deadlines, due to a critical lack of skilled labor," confirms an entrepreneur and owner of a construction company in Casablanca. Moreover, this scarcity of labor affects local companies that are no match for foreign companies, especially Chinese ones, with modern equipment.

Faced with the situation, he calls for urgent action by the government, in collaboration with all stakeholders, to bridge the gap between supply and demand in the sector. As solutions to this crisis, experts recommend strengthening vocational training, improving working conditions and greater adoption of new technologies. A human resources manager in a recruitment agency explained that training is essential to prepare a skilled workforce, adding that local companies would benefit from automating to reduce their dependence on labor and increase their productivity.