For two days, on October 10 and 11, 2024, the French Building Federation organized its “Behind the scenes of the building”, open days which aim to introduce young people to professions in the sector. The Gard Federation thus invited 300 young people to visit the construction site of the Pays d’Uzès intercommunal swimming pool, which should open to the public in the fall of 2025.
Concrete discovery of the building trades on a Uzetian construction site
On the construction site of the Pays d’Uzès intercommunal swimming pool, several members of the French Building Federation of Gard welcome visitors to these annual open houses. “300 students from several middle schools, high schools and training centers in Gard are expected,” explain Olivier Polge, general secretary of the FFB du Gard. Students from the Duhoda high school in Nîmes also participate in the organization of the event by supervising groups for the visits.
“It’s not every day that you can pass behind the “Construction site closed to the public” signs and see around twenty people and a crane working. This morning, a 50-ton staircase was delivered and deposited, the young people were able to realize that it is done to the nearest centimeter…”, rejoices Olivier Polge. Highlighting a “modern construction site, with geothermal energy, photovoltaics”, the professional points adaptation capacity of the sector: “Construction is one of the most technically evolving sectors.”
This also opens the way to new complementary professions in a sector where we have “always need good labor”, sharing Sophie Rourissol, of the company of the same name in charge of the structural work of the swimming pool, and vice-president of the FFB du Gard. “Whether for achievements or for employment, the building is essential”, agrees the president of the Pays d’Uzès community of communes, Fabrice Verdier.
“There are great careers possible in construction, it’s very important that our students can participate in these open days,” estimates the principal of Redounet college in Uzès, Emmanuelle Lorant-Raze. Several middle school students from Segpa sections of all levels, from 6e at 3ewent to the Uzès swimming pool construction site.
Construction, professions not exclusively male
Presenting the potential of the sector also means opening up the field of possibilities by proving to young people that careers in construction are not not just for men. “Stereotypes are becoming less and less realistic, confirms Olivier Polge. There are many women in finishing trades in particular, such as tiling, painting, but also in structural work. On this swimming pool site for example, there are two female site managers.”
The construction industry in difficulty, but “ready to bounce back”
The general secretary of the FFB du Gard, Olivier Polge, recognizes a “stopping phase”. A situation which can be explained by many variables. THE land price, increasingly rare, weighs on the total envelope of the works, just like the regulatory constraints, but also external elements such as the still present consequences of the war in Ukraine.
“We will still suffer the consequences of all this in 2025.” But, optimistically, he believes that the Barnier Government and the news Minister of Housing have taken stock of the issue and that “Today’s decisions will allow the sector to restart within eight months. In construction, there are cycles, here we are in a period where there has never been so little construction in France” . A situation which therefore affects other sectors: “It is said that one job in construction generates four others, architects, design offices, notaries…”.
In the Gard, the building employs 12,300 employees and represents 7,000 companies, including 4,000 single artisans. A key sector of the Gard economy.
