The headquarters of Capeb 47 may well be located at the bottom of a dead end, in Agen, but its managers ensure the “resilience” and “flexibility” of the 400 construction craftsmen who belong to it. However, the state of the sector is not in good shape, and measures that could be taken at national level are likely to darken the picture.
First of all, there are worrying figures: a volume of activity down 5% year-on-year for Lot-et-Garonne, up to 11% for new construction. Maintenance and improvement work recorded a decrease of 1%. “The lights are turning orange,” explains Amar Hocine, president of Capeb 47. “The market is tensing. We are not alarmist but we are starting to worry, because of projects that will impact us, on recruitment and on ways of working. »
Overpriced boilers
“The ecological transition is also in the crosshairs,” continues the president, and Capeb requests the deletion of an article from the 2025 finance law, which would increase the VAT applicable to the installation of very high energy performance boilers from 5.5 to 20%: “It is a punitive measure for the middle and disadvantaged classes. For a boiler costing 5,000 euros, the additional cost would be 725 euros for users. This is an obstacle to the ecological transition of housing and could lead to a drop in activity for SMEs specializing in this sector. »
Learning support is another concern of Capeb. “It is a major training and recruitment route for the construction industry. A year ago, the government was talking about one million apprentices, but in September, we saw a 10% drop in registrations in apprenticeships for the construction sector at the national level, adds Pierre Bouet, administrator of the Capeb. The aid, which had reached 8,000 euros, risks increasing to 4,500 euros. »
Recruitment under threat
“These measures will weigh heavily on hiring decisions for very small companies, because of the overall cost of apprenticeship that this would represent,” assures Amar Hocine, “even though it is an important social elevator for young people. And this will penalize the activity of VSEs in the building sector, which are essential for the region. We want to keep these apprentices. »
We still expect a reduction in activity with the savings requested by the State from public authorities, with deferred work. “The craftsmen are aware that there is a collective effort to be made, and the building will have to take its part, but don't let us be cut short! », asks Amar Hocine.
An ecological home fair in Beaupuy
A trade fair for organic and geo-sourced construction materials will take place at the Beaupuy hall, at the instigation of Capeb and Val de Garonne Agglomération, on November 22 and 23. The opportunity to discover sustainable and eco-responsible construction. FREE ENTRANCE. Information on 05 53 98 00 35 or [email protected]