The construction sector is a huge source of employment that employs more than 2.5 billion workers worldwide, which translates into 7.7% of all new employment.

Additionally, for every million dollars invested in construction products, an average of 97 jobs are created in emerging markets.

According to the analysis “Taking a Step Up: The Role of the Construction Industry in Creating Jobs and Rebuilding Emerging Market Economies” by the Terwilliger Center for Housing Innovation at Habitat for Humanity, this average compares to 81 jobs per million invested in agricultural production and 96 jobs per million invested in products of the accommodation and food services sector.

The report, which focused on the analysis of nine countries such as Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa and Uganda, highlighted that “investment in residential construction represents a potential win-win situation in emerging markets and it helps close persistent gaps in affordable housing and stimulates the broader economy, ”said Patrick Kelley, vice president of the Terwilliger Center for Habitat.

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The report presented evidence to the effect that many jobs target workers with lower levels of formal education, where the researchers found that construction sector jobs are relatively well paid compared to other options.

“These findings are of vital importance for low- and middle-income countries that are deciding which areas to prioritize as they work to rebuild their economies weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic; in particular, in a world where 1.6 billion people still lack decent housing, ”added Kelley.

In turn, the document notes that construction sector workers in emerging markets often work outside regulated and formal channels, thus informal employment in construction accounts for 50% in South Africa compared to more than 90% in countries like India, Indonesia and Uganda.

It should be noted that residential construction dominates the sector; for example, in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, it represents more than 80% of the total construction of buildings.

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The researchers also concluded that measures to improve working conditions and practical training for construction workers can help urban areas, including those hardest hit by the pandemic, develop more sustainably and equitably.

By the end of 2021, Habitat for Humanity will concentrate its efforts on working complete houses with traditional and innovative construction models such as prefabricated, recycled plastic, in addition to changing dirt floors for concrete floors.

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