Spain's construction industry can't find workers as sick leave soars

Construction can't find workers: they hire them and 15 days later they're on sick leave

Hernán summed it up bluntly in a recent interview: "I hired one guy, and 15 days later he's already on sick leave." The testimony of this builder and small business owner, who once had 19 employees and now can't find skilled workers, has reignited the debate over labour shortages in the sector and workplace absenteeism. The uncomfortable question: is there a staff shortage because there are no workers, or because nobody puts up with the conditions?

The problem isn't just finding workers, it's keeping them

Hernán's case is not an isolated one. His path mirrors that of many: he emigrated, worked at an egg-packing company, and when he made the leap into construction, he brought his colleagues with him. "Most of those who came were bricklayers," he recalls. But now, with projects lined up, he can't find young workers. And when he does, the relationship lasts fifteen days.

Some argue the key lies in working conditions: "70% of the perversos pay + 10 hours working under the table," one analysis noted. The other camp, however, maintains the problem is one of perverse incentives. Along those lines, it is argued that the current system rewards sick leave and punishes the employer who, with two employees off sick, sees their business at risk. "You work to support the social security system, the government, and those who are feeling under the weather. You shut down," one industry professional summed up.

The contrast with the property bubble

The comparison with the golden era of construction is inevitable. During the bubble, construction workers wouldn't take sick leave "even if they were on their deathbed," as the analysis recalled. Antiestéticar of being laid off, with the economy in full swing but also with fierce competition, worked the miracle. As soon as the crisis passed, sick leave returned to its usual levels.

That contrast suggests absenteeism is not a new phenomenon, but a rational behaviour that switches on or off depending on the context. When the antiestéticar of losing your job disappears, sick leave becomes a more attractive option. And in a sector where the work is hard and the alternatives, while lower paid, are less physically demanding, the temptation is greater.

Absenteeism soars: the data confirms it

The data backs up the perception that something is changing. At many companies, absenteeism already exceeds 8% in 2025, a figure that has doubled in about 7 years. In a workforce of 1,300 people, that means 109 workers are absent every day. The scale is such that, in collective bargaining negotiations, absenteeism is now being used as an argument to limit pay rises, cut productivity bonuses or eliminate bonuses if certain thresholds are exceeded.

The question that remains is whether the solution lies in improving conditions or tightening control mechanisms. Some favour training and raising the status of the trade, pointing out that it's not the physical effort that puts young people off, but the lack of career guidance. Others propose more drastic measures, such as hiring workers in their home countries on three-month renewable contracts based on performance, so that sick leave doesn't become an escape route.

Meanwhile, the small business owner still can't find anyone to build a wall. And the consumer, who knows that any renovation is an odyssey of delays and costs, pays the price. The striking figure: absenteeism has doubled in seven years, but wages in the sector have barely moved. Something doesn't add up.