Thus, builders’ hiring intentions are the most upbeat since 2008. Considerable indicator increases, of 21% and 30%, are reported both against the previous quarter and against the same period a year ago.
“The year had a modest start in terms of construction sector trends, turnover contracted by 4%-5% from the previous year and in the two years of crisis the overall decline of constructions turnover reached 37%. However, the following period may see a positive trend of hiring in constructions,” says Laurentiu Plosceanu, president of the Romanian Association of Constructions Entrepreneurs (ARACO).
He does not expect, however, the volume of builders’ turnover and the number of employees in the field to top the average value registered in 2010.
A Manpower survey, carried out among 765 Romanian employers, includes statistical data on hiring projections in ten sectors of the economy. Employers in all the sectors analyzed anticipate an increase in hiring in the third quarter of this year, especially those in the extractive industry (net 34% projection), the processing industry (27%), hotel and restaurant sector (22%) and retail (22%). While hiring projections are the most positive of the past three years, most Romanian employers (63%) say they do not expect any change in their employee structure, meaning neither layoffs, nor any massive hiring.
“We expect turnover in the field to hit EUR9.7-9.8 billion at the end of this year and the average number of employees to reach 320,000-330,000 during the year and 285,000-290,000 at yearend,” the ARACO president adds.
The number of employees in the constructions field dropped to 289,100 people this February (the month with the latest data available), more than 134,000 employees fewer than in May 2008, when there was a peak of personnel in the field, according to the National Statistics Institute data. “Against last year, there is 15%-18% higher demand for jobs in constructions, but an increase in hiring is normal for this period, as the building season has started,” says Minola Jac, PR and Marketing Manager with recruiting firm Gi Group.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu, editing by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)