The EU construction sector employs 13.3 million people directly. Total output reaches 1,877 billion euros. The statistics below cover employment levels, investment volumes, and performance by subsector.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the EU construction sector employed 13.3 million people directly.
- EU public investment in green construction €50 billion in 2022.
- In 2022, the total output of the EU construction sector was €1,877 billion, accounting for 5.4% of the EU27 GDP.
- EU residential construction output was €650 billion in 2022.
- 40% of new EU buildings in 2022 were NZEB compliant.
Construction activity in the EU shows steady momentum, supported by consistent output and investment trends.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment & Workforce27 stats
01
In 2022, the EU construction sector employed 13.3 million people directly.
02
EU construction employment rate was 6.8% of total employment in 2022.
03
Germany had 2.3 million construction workers in 2022.
04
France employed 1.5 million in construction in 2023.
05
Italy's construction workforce numbered 1.2 million in 2022.
06
Spain construction employment reached 1.1 million in 2023.
07
Poland had 700,000 construction employees in 2022.
08
Netherlands construction jobs: 450,000 in 2022.
09
Average hourly labor cost in EU construction was €27.5 in 2022.
10
Sweden construction employment 300,000 in 2022.
11
Belgium 250,000 construction workers in 2022.
12
Austria construction jobs 280,000 in 2022.
13
Denmark 180,000 in construction employment 2022.
14
Finland construction workforce 200,000 in 2022.
15
25% of EU construction workers are self-employed.
16
Czech Republic 400,000 construction employees in 2022.
17
Hungary construction jobs 250,000 in 2022.
18
Romania 500,000 in construction workforce 2022.
19
Bulgaria construction employment 180,000 in 2022.
20
Slovakia 150,000 construction workers 2022.
21
Lithuania construction jobs 120,000 in 2022.
22
Latvia 80,000 in construction employment 2022.
23
Estonia construction workforce 60,000 in 2022.
24
Ireland 150,000 construction employees 2022.
25
Portugal construction jobs 300,000 in 2022.
26
Croatia construction employment 100,000 in 2022.
27
Slovenia 70,000 construction workers 2022.
Interpretation
Employment & Workforce Interpretation
While Germany shoulders the sector as its heavyweight champion and a quarter of all workers proudly fly the solo banner, the EU construction industry, with its 13.3 million-strong workforce, is quite literally the concrete foundation upon which the European economy is built.
02 · Category
Investments, Challenges & Outlook20 stats
01
EU public investment in green construction €50 billion in 2022.
02
Private investment in EU construction €1.2 trillion in 2022.
03
Recovery and Resilience Facility allocated €190 billion for construction by 2026.
04
EU construction faces 25% labor shortage in skilled trades 2023.
05
Inflation in construction materials: 10% rise in 2022.
06
Germany invests €100 billion in infrastructure 2023-2027.
07
France MaPrimeRénov' scheme: €5 billion for renovations 2022.
08
Italy PNRR construction funding €110 billion to 2026.
09
Spain housing investment plan €3.4 billion 2022-2025.
10
Poland EU funds for construction €40 billion 2021-2027.
11
Cost overrun average in EU mega-projects: 20%.
12
Netherlands invests €80 billion in housing 2023-2030.
13
Sweden infrastructure budget SEK 700 billion 2023-2034.
14
EU construction insolvency rate up 15% in 2022.
15
Belgium NextGenerationEU €5 billion for green infra.
16
Austria housing subsidies €2 billion 2022.
17
Denmark construction forecast growth 1.5% 2024.
18
Supply chain delays affected 60% of EU projects 2022.
19
Finland invests €10 billion in rail 2023-2030.
20
EU digitalization investment gap in construction €100 billion.
Interpretation
Investments, Challenges & Outlook Interpretation
We're trying to build a greener, digital future on a massive scale, but the industry is currently held together by public money, duct tape, and a dwindling number of skilled workers who can't find materials that haven't doubled in price.
03 · Category
Market Size & Growth30 stats
01
In 2022, the total output of the EU construction sector was €1,877 billion, accounting for 5.4% of the EU27 GDP.
02
The EU construction industry's value added grew by 2.1% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching €512 billion.
03
Between 2019 and 2023, the EU construction turnover increased by 12.5% in nominal terms.
04
Germany's construction sector contributed €382 billion to the economy in 2022, the largest in the EU.
05
France's construction output was €294 billion in 2022, representing 12% of national GDP.
06
The EU construction market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% from 2024 to 2028.
07
In 2023, EU construction production index stood at 105.3 (2015=100).
08
Italy's construction sector turnover reached €220 billion in 2022.
09
Spain saw a 4.2% growth in construction output in 2023.
10
The Netherlands construction market size was €85 billion in 2022.
11
EU construction sector's gross value added per employee was €78,500 in 2022.
12
Poland's construction output grew 5.8% in 2023.
13
Sweden's construction industry valued at SEK 600 billion (€53 billion) in 2022.
14
Belgium construction turnover €45 billion in 2022.
15
EU average construction GDP share was 5.9% in 2021.
16
Austria's construction output €42 billion in 2022.
17
Denmark construction market €28 billion in 2022.
18
Finland construction turnover €25 billion in 2022.
19
Ireland construction value €15 billion in 2022.
20
Portugal construction output €20 billion in 2022.
21
Czech Republic construction grew 3.1% in 2023.
22
Hungary construction turnover HUF 8 trillion (€20 billion) in 2022.
23
Romania construction output RON 120 billion (€24 billion) in 2022.
24
Bulgaria construction grew 4.5% in 2023.
25
Slovakia construction €12 billion in 2022.
26
Lithuania construction turnover €6 billion in 2022.
27
Latvia construction output €3.5 billion in 2022.
28
Estonia construction €2.8 billion in 2022.
29
Croatia construction grew 2.8% in 2023.
30
Slovenia construction €5 billion in 2022.
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
Even in an era obsessed with digital disruption, the EU remains stubbornly built on brick-and-mortar brawn, where Germany's €382 billion concrete empire and France's 12% GDP citadel prove that while software may be eating the world, construction is still busy laying its foundation.
More related reading
04 · Category
Subsector Performance28 stats
01
EU residential construction output was €650 billion in 2022.
02
Non-residential building construction in EU: €450 billion turnover 2022.
03
Civil engineering works in EU generated €777 billion in 2022.
04
EU housing completions reached 1.7 million units in 2022.
05
Germany's residential construction: 250,000 dwellings completed 2022.
06
France new residential permits: 400,000 in 2022.
07
Italy non-residential construction €120 billion 2022.
08
Spain civil engineering output €100 billion 2022.
09
Poland residential building permits 200,000 in 2022.
10
Netherlands office construction completions 1.2 million m² 2022.
11
Sweden industrial construction €20 billion 2022.
12
Belgium road construction €10 billion 2022.
13
Austria residential output €25 billion 2022.
14
Denmark non-residential permits 5 million m² 2022.
15
Finland civil engineering €15 billion 2022.
16
EU share of residential in total construction: 35% in 2022.
17
Czech Republic housing starts 50,000 in 2022.
18
Hungary non-residential €15 billion 2022.
19
Romania civil engineering RON 60 billion 2022.
20
Bulgaria residential completions 20,000 units 2022.
21
Slovakia industrial construction €5 billion 2022.
22
Lithuania road works €2 billion 2022.
23
Latvia residential permits 15,000 2022.
24
Estonia non-residential €1.5 billion 2022.
25
Ireland civil engineering €8 billion 2022.
26
Portugal housing completions 40,000 2022.
27
Croatia office construction 0.5 million m² 2022.
28
Slovenia civil engineering €3 billion 2022.
Interpretation
Subsector Performance Interpretation
While the EU's €777 billion civil engineering sector is laying the continent's backbone, the €650 billion residential industry is struggling to keep up with demand, leaving a housing gap so significant it’s a wonder we’re not all just camping under the new bridges.
05 · Category
Sustainability & Green Building20 stats
01
40% of new EU buildings in 2022 were NZEB compliant.
02
EU construction sector's CO2 emissions totaled 400 million tonnes in 2022.
03
Share of renewable energy in EU building sector: 22% in 2022.
04
Germany's green building certifications: 5,000 projects in 2022.
05
France energy renovation subsidies covered 500,000 homes in 2022.
06
Italy's nearly zero-energy buildings: 15% of new builds 2022.
07
Spain solar PV installations in construction: 10 GW in 2022.
08
Poland green public procurement in construction: 30% of projects 2022.
09
Netherlands circular construction materials use: 20% in 2022.
10
Sweden timber construction share: 25% in residential 2022.
11
EU EPC ratings: 5% of buildings A-rated in 2022.
12
Belgium low-carbon concrete use: 10% in new projects 2022.
13
Austria passive house certifications: 2,000 in 2022.
14
Denmark district heating in new builds: 60% coverage 2022.
15
Finland wood-based construction: 40% of new homes 2022.
16
15% reduction in EU construction waste per capita 2018-2022.
17
Czech Republic heat pump installations: 50,000 units 2022.
18
Hungary green roofs: 1 million m² installed 2022.
19
Romania energy-efficient retrofits: 100,000 buildings 2022.
20
Bulgaria LEED certified projects: 20 in 2022.
Interpretation
Sustainability & Green Building Interpretation
One could say the EU's construction industry is frantically dressing its new buildings in green while the vast, poorly-insulated existing stock remains in its thermal pyjamas.
Reference
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Eu Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Eu Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eu-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Eu Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level