The skills shortage as a growth barrier: The current figures
The situation in the German construction industry is tense. Despite a slight cooling of the economy, 64% of construction companies reported the skills shortage as one of the biggest risks to their business development at the beginning of 2025. Nationwide, there were over 530,000 qualified workers missing across all sectors, with construction being particularly affected. The demographic development exacerbates the situation: The gap between the 19,800 skilled workers who retired in 2024 and the only 12,340 new trainees is growing larger.
This personnel gap leads to concrete problems: Projects are delayed, costs rise, and quality suffers. Many companies can no longer fully utilize their capacities. To remain competitive, new recruitment strategies are essential. One of the most promising is opening up to career changers in the construction industry. Learn more about the Future of the construction industry in our blog.
However, merely hiring new employees is not enough; their rapid and efficient onboarding is the key to success.
Career changers as an opportunity: Fresh ideas and new skills
Career changers are more than just a stopgap solution for the personnel shortage. They often bring valuable skills from other industries that construction can benefit from. These include leadership experience, organizational talent, or a high affinity for digital technology. In Switzerland, career changers already make up around 30% of construction managers, highlighting their enormous potential.
A strategic approach to attracting career changers is crucial. The following profiles are particularly interesting:
- Individuals with practical skills from other trades.
- Former logisticians who bring organizational talent.
- Academics seeking a hands-on role.
- People with leadership experience who can guide teams.
The decisive advantage lies in the motivation and new perspectives that these employees bring. They challenge existing processes and can become important drivers for the modernization of your business. However, to attract these talents, companies must offer attractive and clear development paths. Learn more about the current trends in the construction industry.
But how do you overcome the initial hurdle of lacking expertise and specific qualifications?
Challenges in integration: Expertise and communication
The biggest challenge when hiring career changers is the onboarding process. Missing expertise regarding processes, materials, or safety regulations must be compensated quickly and efficiently. Traditional, lengthy training sessions are often too costly and time-consuming. Additionally, language barriers can complicate communication, as the proportion of foreign skilled workers has now risen to 24%.
Another problem is acceptance within the team. Existing employees need to support the new colleagues, which can lead to friction without clear structures. An unstructured onboarding process leads to mistakes, which can be costly in construction and jeopardize legal security. Documenting defects, creating daily construction reports, or accurately measuring quantities requires precise instructions.
Digital tools aim to address this, making onboarding easier and standardizing processes without requiring users to learn complex new software. Learn more about The skills shortage in the construction industry here.
The solution lies in simplifying daily workflows through intelligent technology.
Digital tools as a bridge: How to successfully onboard career changers
Digitization is the key to the rapid and successful integration of career changers. Instead of overwhelming new employees with complex programs, simple, intuitive solutions provide the greatest added value. Valoon focuses on leveraging a tool that everyone already uses: WhatsApp. Without app installation or training, new team members can start working productively immediately.
Here’s how Valoon concretely supports onboarding:
- Simple and legally compliant documentation: A photo via WhatsApp is enough to automatically save a defect or construction progress in the right project with a timestamp.
- Overcoming language barriers: The integrated live translation in over 20 languages ensures that instructions can be understood by everyone – a huge help in international teams.
- Automated daily construction reports: Career changers do not need to fill out complicated forms. All relevant information is captured via WhatsApp and automatically compiled into a legally compliant report.
- Digital timesheets: Time tracking is done with a simple command in the chat, reducing administrative effort for all involved by up to 80%.
This simplification allows career changers to focus on their actual tasks instead of dealing with bureaucracy. Acceptance within the team increases as the processes become easier for everyone. Digitization thus transforms from a buzzword to a practical solution for the Staffing needs on construction sites.
This hands-on support not only ensures productivity but also legal compliance from day one.
Conclusion: Your advantage with Valoon
The skills shortage forces the construction industry to take action. Career entry into the construction industry is not a compromise solution, but a strategic necessity to be successful in the future. With the right tools, you can transform the challenge of onboarding into an opportunity for your entire company.
Valoon bridges the gap between the office and the construction site, ensuring smooth communication and documentation. You benefit from Simplicity, as no training is required, Time savings through automated processes and Legal security at every step. Make your company future-proof and attractive to new talents now.
Are you ready to simplify your processes and make new employees productive in record time? Then book your free demo now and find out how Valoon revolutionizes your construction site.
More Links
Der Main Association of the German Construction Industry provides industry information on the skills situation in the construction sector.
Die Federal Employment Agency provides statistics on the labor market situation in the construction industry.
Der Central Association of the German Construction Industry provides extensive information on securing skilled workers in the construction sector.
Das Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) offers comprehensive information and statistics on the topic of skilled workers.
Die Technical University of Berlin provides a scientific analysis of the skills shortage in the construction industry.
Die Federal Employment Agency publishes a publication on labor and skilled worker shortages in Germany.
Das Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides official statistics and data on the construction industry.
Das Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) offers current economic indicators for the construction industry.
FAQ
How does Valoon concretely assist in onboarding career changers?
Valoon uses WhatsApp and therefore requires no training. New employees can immediately send photos for documentation via chat, record their hours, or receive instructions. The live translation function eliminates language barriers and ensures that all tasks are understood correctly.
Is documentation via WhatsApp legally compliant?
Yes. All data sent via Valoon through WhatsApp, such as photos, notes, and times, are automatically timestamped and securely stored on German servers. The resulting daily construction reports and protocols are GDPR-compliant and provide evidence in case of legal disputes.
What does Valoon cost for the employees on the construction site?
For employees on the construction site, using Valoon via WhatsApp is completely free. Costs are only incurred for the licenses of users in the office who manage and analyze the data in the web application. This lowers the entry barrier and promotes acceptance within the entire team.
What languages are supported by the translation function?
Valoon supports live translation in over 20 languages, including English, Polish, Romanian, Turkish, Arabic, and many more. This enables clear and efficient communication in international teams directly in the familiar chat interface.
Can I test Valoon before making a decision?
Yes, we offer a free and non-binding demo. In a personal presentation, we will show you how Valoon solves your specific problems on the construction site and how quickly you and your team can benefit from it. Just book an appointment on our website.
