An unprecedented labour shortage for construction workers in Europe is jeopardising growth across the continent, forcing contractors, trade associations and national governments to wrestle with difficult questions about the industry’s image, culture and purpose.

Contractors of all sizes are aggressively seeking ways to find more skilled workers in an industry where nearly 1 in 4 construction workers are older than 55. With fewer and less-skilled workers available, productivity suffers and jobsite safety is put at risk. As skills shortages and recruitment challenges hit major infrastructure projects across the EU we look at how the construction industry is responding.