Intermat 2024: Training the new generation in sustainable construction technologies

The crucial importance of training in the construction industry

With rapid advances in sustainable construction and digitalisation, training young people is becoming an absolute priority for the sector. According to a study carried out by the CCCA-BTP, over 75% of building and public works companies recognise the need to adapt their employees' skills in response to changes in technology and working methods. INTERMAT showed how professionals are adapting to these changes in order to meet new environmental and technological challenges. Young engineers, technicians and workers must master robotised machines, digital design software and connected management tools. According to Philippe Girard, CEO de Wacker Neuson in France and an expert in the distribution of building and civil engineering equipment, traditional manual jobs are changing. ‘Today, we're no longer just talking about physical work, but about a profession that requires great adaptability and a good command of technology,’ he points out. In this respect, the study carried out by Pôle emploi indicates that jobs in the building and civil engineering sector today require a dual skill set, technical and digital, particularly with the rise of technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) and connected machines.

A new generation committed to the construction industry

For Laure Regnaud, Director of the Fondation École Française du Béton, today's young people are particularly motivated by social and environmental challenges. ‘The new generation is well ahead of the game when it comes to digital issues and is keenly aware of the environmental impact of its actions,’ she explains. This trend is corroborated by a Deloitte study which reveals that 77% of young workers are looking for jobs with a positive impact on society and the environment. The construction industry offers a real opportunity to contribute to sustainable projects, with concrete solutions for reducing carbon footprints, thanks to innovations such as 3D printing of concrete and the use of bio-sourced materials.

The round table discussion at INTERMAT revealed that young people are entering the sector with a strong commitment to the future of the planet, as well as a passion for mechanics, construction and new technologies. Josick Blanchot, a young student the agricultural machinery sector, stresses the importance of innovation: ‘Our machines are becoming increasingly robotised. The maintenance and use of these technologies are stimulating challenges for the new generations.

Training tailored to the new challenges facing the construction industry

In response to these changes, construction companies and specialised schools are developing increasingly advanced training courses. Work-linked courses enable young people to acquire skills in the field, while being trained in the latest technologies. This method of learning is proving particularly effective, as it enables professionals to be trained in line with companies' immediate needs. By 2021, more than 80% of work-linked apprentices in the construction industry had found a job within six months of graduating. Major groups, such as Vinci Construction, also play a key role in training talent ready to meet the challenges of the future. According to the Fédération Française du Bâtiment (FFB), young people trained on sandwich courses or apprenticeships have an employability rate of 90%, thanks to their mastery of modern techniques and tools. There are a wide range of career paths in the building and public works sector, with many opportunities for advancement: engineering, site management, international project management, robotised maintenance, etc.

A sector that is actively recruiting

The building and public works sector is facing a growing need for skilled labour. As Philippe Girard explains, ‘It's crucial to make young people aware of the opportunities offered by the building and public works sector. The CEMAT Club, for example, is actively working to inform young people and teachers about the many possible careers, from maintenance to sales and project management’. In 2023, a study by the Observatoire des métiers du BTP revealed that the sector would need almost 200,000 new talents by 2030 to meet demand, mainly in technical occupations.One of the challenges in recruiting new talent lies in ‘know-how’, according to Philippe Girard. This is all the more important as the building and civil engineering professions, although modernised, are still sometimes little known to the general public. Yet they play a key role in the ecological transition and offer a wide range of exciting career prospects. The French Ministry of Employment has pointed out that jobs linked to the ecological transition, such as those in the building and public works sector, could create up to 1 million additional jobs by 2050.

If you want to keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector, look out for the next edition of intermat in April 2027.

Sources: 

• CCCA-BTP: Study of skills requirements in the building and public works sector
• Pôle emploi: Analysis of technical and digital skills in the construction industry
• Deloitte: Study on the social commitment of young people
• Ministry of Labour: Report on jobs linked to the ecological transition
• Fédération Française du Bâtiment: Statistics on work-linked training in the construction industry