03.08.2020 06:38
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Corona causes order numbers to collapse: Now Saxony’s construction industry is also slipping into crisis
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By Torsten Hilscher, Thomas Staudt
Dresden/Leipzig – Corona has given the Saxon construction industry a serious damper: In the construction industry, orders have plummeted compared to the previous year. The majority of architecture firms also complain about a lack of new orders.
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Some construction sites stood still during the shutdown in Saxony. But most of them continued to work. Now construction companies and architects are complaining about a drop in orders. © dpa-Zentralbild / Jan Woitas
Downhill for construction companies and planners: The Saxon construction industry recorded an order drop of 27 percent compared to the previous year (same month: May).
According to the figures from the Kamenz State Statistical Office, the decline in civil engineering (minus 31.5 percent) is particularly pronounced, while in residential construction (minus 20 percent) it is somewhat less drastic.
“This proves our fears that the Corona crisis will hit the construction industry.
However, we are more than surprised by such a decline in the Free State, “said Klaus Bertram, the general manager of the Saxon building trade association (SBV), to the Leipziger Volkszeitung.
Regionally, the differences are large: at the Leipzig construction companies the decline in orders was “only” 22.7 percent.
At the bottom of the flagpole is Dresden with a minus of 57.8 percent.
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Delaying the crisis: Chamber of Architects sounds the alarm
The architects’ association is also sending warning signals. In a nationwide survey of 5,000 architects and engineers from June, 62 percent of those questioned complained that they were currently not completing any new orders or significantly fewer than before the Corona crisis. 49 percent feared a decline in orders in the next twelve months, 17 percent even serious liquidity bottlenecks.
“Architects have delayed the crisis,” says Daniel Pfyngsten from the Saxony Chamber of Architects.
In response to the numbers, the Chamber of Architects is now calling for the federal and state governments to strengthen public and commercial clients. The Corona emergency aid program is to be extended.
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After all: the craft is slowly getting out of hand
Squaring the circle: Corona and Bau – that doesn’t work. © dpa / Christophe Gateau
Everything is only half as bad. The training market in the East Saxon craft is stabilizing again.
As the responsible Chamber of Crafts in Dresden (HwK) reports, 1345 women and men have an apprenticeship contract firmly in their pockets shortly before the start of the new training year. For comparison: As of July 31, 2019, 1,227 apprenticeship contracts were registered with the Dresden Chamber of Crafts – without any difficulties due to Corona.
“We are positively surprised by these numbers. Against the background of the sometimes massive effects of the Corona crisis on the trade, they show how great the need for skilled workers is in companies in Eastern Saxony and how great their willingness to train,” says Manuela Salewski , Deputy General Manager of the HwK.
“The number of apprenticeship contracts has increased, particularly in the building and finishing trades – including bricklayers, carpenters, roofers as well as painters and varnishers.”
In the Online apprenticeship exchange around 300 vacant training positions are still registered at the HwK. From A as in plant mechanics to Z as in two-wheel mechatronics, craft businesses offer apprenticeship positions all over East Saxony.
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Cover photo: dpa-Zentralbild / Jan Woitas
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