According to Diario Las Noticias (San Juan), the construction sector renewed its warning over the deep crisis facing the industry, estimating that between 100.000 and 130.000 jobs have been lost since the start of the current national administration, a decline attributed to the sharp fall in public works and shrinking investment.
The estimate was presented by industry representatives during a meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure, Housing and Transport of the Chamber of Deputies, where they described the impact on one of the sectors with the greatest capacity to generate employment in the country. Business owners, industry chambers and union leaders agreed that the halt of numerous infrastructure projects has caused a sharp decline in activity, affecting both large companies and small and medium-sized builders nationwide.
One of the main demands raised at the hearing concerned the lack of institutional dialogue with the national government. Representatives said no channels exist to discuss public policy on infrastructure and called for the opening of communication channels that would allow investment planning and give the sector predictability. They also requested that financing mechanisms be promoted to reactivate strategic projects and that a joint working agenda be established between the state and the industry, aiming to restore investment and preserve employment.
The sector argues that public works not only drive economic development but also improve competitiveness, strengthen territorial integration and generate direct and indirect employment across numerous construction-related activities. Representatives warned that the continuation of the current situation puts at risk the survival of many companies, particularly small and medium-sized firms that depend on infrastructure works to sustain their activity and payrolls. Construction is considered one of the main engines of the Argentine economy due to its multiplier effect on other productive activities, the outlet noted, adding that the sector's deterioration raises concern both for its impact on employment and for the consequences on infrastructure development across the country.