The costs of downtime: What the skilled labor shortage really means
The skilled labor shortage in the construction industry is more than just an unfilled position; it is a direct brake on the economy. In 2023, over 530,000 positions in Germany remained unfilled, a significant portion of which were in the construction sector. For construction companies, this concretely means that contracts cannot be accepted, which according to a PwC study represents the greatest challenge for 78% of companies. The consequences are revenue losses and declining competitiveness. Almost half of all companies (45%) are directly affected by the skilled labor shortage, leading to significant project delays. This development is exacerbated by demographic change, as a decline in the labor potential of over seven million people is forecasted by 2035. The development of the construction industry thus critically depends on how companies respond to these staffing shortages. The numbers show that a reactive waiting for new applicants is no longer a sustainable strategy.
Everyday life on the construction site: How personnel shortages paralyze processes
The abstract figures of the skilled labor shortage manifest on the construction site in very concrete, daily problems. A quarter of construction companies in the EU reported a shortage of workers as a production hindrance as early as the end of 2024. This leads to an overload of existing construction and project managers, who often have to manage several projects simultaneously with too little staff. Communication turns into chaos, especially when international teams are involved. The percentage of foreign employees in the core construction sector has increased from 8% in 2010 to 24% in 2024. Language barriers hinder precise instructions and defect recording. Errors and misunderstandings cost time every day and lead to rework that could have been avoided with full staffing. The manual creation of daily construction reports and thorough documentation are often neglected under this pressure, jeopardizing legal security. The digitalization of the construction industry offers simple solutions to overcome these hurdles. These inefficient processes are not only an annoyance but a direct lever to increase productivity.
The efficiency lever: Achieving more with the same team
When qualified personnel are scarce, the productivity of existing employees becomes the decisive success factor. The German construction industry has considerable potential here, as its productivity has only grown by 0.26% annually since 1995, compared to 1.32% in the overall economy. Increasing productivity through digital tools can directly compensate for the shortage of skilled workers. According to McKinsey, optimized processes and the use of technology could cover up to 60% of the global infrastructure needs with the same resource usage. For your company, this means:
- Automated documentation: Reduces the administrative burden for construction managers by several hours per week.
- Structured communication: Prevents misunderstandings and costly rework that arise from unclear agreements.
- Seamless tracking: Ensures that defects and tasks are clearly assigned and completed on time.
- Overcoming language barriers: Integrated translation functions enable smooth collaboration with international teams.
Die Future of the construction industry lies in optimally utilizing existing capacities. It’s about providing the right tools that are easy to use and deliver direct added value. This is exactly where Valoon comes in, by integrating complex processes into the simplicity of WhatsApp.
Practical check: Valoon eliminates communication chaos and language barriers
Unstructured WhatsApp groups are ubiquitous on construction sites, but they offer no legal security and quickly lead to information chaos. Valoon leverages the high acceptance of WhatsApp and gives communication a clean structure. Every message, photo, and voice note is automatically assigned to the correct construction project and process. This creates a seamless and legally secure construction diary without anyone having to change their way of working. A key advantage is the live translation function. With a share of 24% foreign workers in the core construction sector, mainly from Romania, Poland, or Croatia, language barriers are one of the biggest efficiency brakes. With Valoon, your employees can communicate in their native language, and the construction manager receives everything clearly translated and documented. The artificial intelligence in construction makes this possible and ensures clear instructions and error-free feedback. This simple solution to a complex problem not only saves time but also increases the quality of execution. But not only communication, also the downstream documentation is revolutionized.
Automated construction documentation: Save 5 hours per week
Creating a construction diary, recording defects, and documenting measurements are administrative tasks that can cost a construction manager up to 10 hours per week. Valoon reduces this effort by at least 50%. Every photo taken on site is sent via WhatsApp to a project-specific number and automatically ends up in the correct folder. Voice messages are converted to text and securely filed as notes. This automation ensures a seamless, GDPR-compliant documentation that serves as evidence in case of disputes. Instead of spending evenings in the office categorizing photos and notes, the construction manager does this with a few clicks on the side. This not only creates space for actual construction supervision but also simplifies the onboarding of new employees or career changers in the construction industry, as the processes are clear and simple. The time saved is a direct gain for productivity and helps mitigate the effects of the skilled labor shortage. However, the biggest advantage is that this technology is immediately accepted by all employees.
The acceptance factor: Why ‘no app’ is the best feature
The best software is useless if the employees do not use it. Low acceptance of new, complex applications is one of the biggest hurdles in digitalization on the construction site. Many employees on construction sites do not want or are unable to install and learn a new app. Valoon completely bypasses this problem since it is based on WhatsApp, a tool already used by over 2 billion people worldwide. For the employees on the construction site, nothing changes: They continue to use WhatsApp as usual. There is zero training effort and no resistance. This high acceptance of 100% from day one is key to successfully digitalizing your construction site communication. The time gained from this efficiency increase can even enable new working models like the 4-day workweek in construction . This way, technology becomes a real helper instead of an additional burden. Let’s summarize the key advantages for your company.
Your advantage with Valoon: Simple, efficient, and legally secure
The skilled labor shortage in the construction industry forces companies to rethink. Instead of simply hoping for new employees, you can specifically increase the productivity of your existing teams with Valoon. We tackle the core problems of construction site communication and documentation with a tool that everyone already knows and uses. The main advantages for you are:
- Simplicity: No new app, no training. Your teams work as usual with WhatsApp.
- Efficiency: You save up to 5 hours per construction manager per week through automated reports and documentation.
- Legal security: All agreements, photos, and defects are automatically and GDPR-compliant documented.
Actively counter the skilled labor shortage by optimizing your processes and relieving your employees. Book your free demo now and see how Valoon can increase efficiency on your construction sites by up to 30%.
More Links
Der Main Association of the German Construction Industry provides industry information on the skilled labor situation in the core construction sector.
Die Federal Employment Agency provides a detailed analysis of the labor market situation in the construction industry.
Das Fraunhofer IESE publishes a study on the digitalization in the construction sector, which provides important insights.
Das Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) offers comprehensive information and data on the topic of construction in Germany.
Die Chamber of Crafts Munich and Upper Bavaria highlights in an article the ongoing skilled labor shortage in the trades.
Das Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) provides a publication on relevant topics in the field of construction and spatial research.
Die German National Library provides a catalog entry for a relevant publication.
FAQ
How does Valoon specifically help against the skilled labor shortage?
Valoon increases the efficiency of your existing teams. By automating construction documentation and simplifying communication via WhatsApp, your construction managers save valuable time that they can use for actual site management. This way, you can achieve more work with the same number of employees.
Do my employees need to learn new software?
No. That’s the key advantage of Valoon. Your employees on the construction site continue to use WhatsApp as usual. Only the project managers in the office use the Valoon web application, where all information is automatically structured. The training effort is zero.
Is communication via Valoon and WhatsApp legally secure?
Yes. All messages, images, and documents sent via Valoon are stored unchangeably and timestamped on German servers. The documentation is GDPR-compliant and can be used as evidence in court in case of disputes.
How does the live translation work for international teams?
An employee on the construction site can send a message in their native language as a text or voice message via WhatsApp. Valoon automatically translates this message into the recipient’s language (e.g., the German construction manager) and vice versa. This way, language barriers are easily overcome.
How quickly can Valoon be implemented in our company?
Implementing Valoon takes only a few hours. Since no software installation or training for the teams on the construction site is necessary, you can practically start immediately. You set up a project, assign the phone numbers, and can get started right away.
What does Valoon cost for employees on the construction site?
For the employees on the construction site, the use of Valoon is completely free. Costs only apply for the users in the office (e.g., project managers) who use the web application for management and documentation. This pricing model lowers the entry barrier and promotes acceptance.
