Europe’s construction sector is facing an escalating workforce and talent shortage that threatens the delivery of major infrastructure and megaprojects — driven by an ageing labour force, insufficient technical training pipelines, rising project demand and fierce international competition for skilled professionals. With the skills gap expected to peak within the next decade, this shortage is becoming a core project risk that directly influences investor appetite, project feasibility, cost certainty and the availability and terms of insurance coverage.

This breakout session examines the scale of the problem, when pressures on labour capacity are expected to intensify and how workforce scarcity is reshaping risk allocation across construction contracts, project governance and underwriting scrutiny. Attendees will gain high-level insight into the forward-looking strategies risk managers can deploy — from early-stage labour risk modelling and supply chain workforce audits to scenario planning, productivity-enhancing technologies and stronger engagement with insurers on workforce resilience.