construction workers

The housing sector is short an estimated 300,000 skilled trades workers, a gap that is delaying construction and adding to costs. Builders report persistent difficulty filling electrician, plumber and carpenter roles, which limits how fast new homes can come to market. Industry analysts say the shortage is a key constraint on easing housing supply problems.

Polish workers are increasingly leaving the Netherlands to return to a 'new Poland', according to a Volkskrant report being widely shared. The departure raises the question of who will fill the low-paid work in distribution centres, greenhouses and construction, jobs long staffed by Polish labour and relied upon by employers including voters of the VVD.

A journalist has been using an iPhone and a thermal sensor to document temperatures in homes, workplaces and public spaces during an intense heatwave gripping the city. The readings reveal stark disparities: construction workers labouring in direct sun, delivery riders crossing hot streets, and residents of old, poorly insulated apartment buildings facing dangerous indoor temperatures.

A 56-year-old construction worker was critically injured in a workplace accident when he fell four metres from scaffolding. He was taken to San Bortolo hospital in serious condition. The incident has drawn attention to safety conditions on building sites, with reports noting the height of the fall and the severity of the man's injuries.

Immigration enforcement is tightening labor supply in the building industry, where foreign-born workers make up a large share of trades like roofing, drywall and carpentry. Dealers, contractors and builders report project delays, rising labor costs and slower home construction as workers stay off job sites, prompting calls for policy changes and workforce development.