| Work Detail |
The construction industry is experiencing one of its worst crises in decades, as reported at the 70th Annual Convention of the Argentine Chamber of Construction. Between July 2023 and July 2024, the loss of approximately 7,000 companies linked to the sector and more than 120,000 jobs was recorded, figures that reflect the impact of the almost complete halt of public works nationwide. Specialized journalist Ariel Maciel, from Editorial Perfil, noted that the situation has remained stagnant since August 2024: There were no further losses, but neither was there any recovery. The situation remains critical. In his analysis, he highlighted that the suspension of public works ordered by the National Government was a determining factor in this decline, leaving numerous construction companies without contracts or projects underway. Maciel explained that while the national government deactivated almost all of the infrastructure plans it funded, some provinces and municipalities managed to maintain a moderate level of activity with their own resources. However, this did not compensate for the overall collapse of the sector. The government shifted responsibility to local jurisdictions and presented it as a political decision, celebrated from a fiscal perspective, without considering the economic and social costs, he stated. Currently, there are only four active public works projects in the country: one in Tucumán, another in a border area between Santiago del Estero and Catamarca, one in Chaco, and one in Pinamar. All are small-scale and under-budget. This level of activity falls far short of meeting the needs of strategic sectors such as Vaca Muerta, agriculture, and mining, which require infrastructure investments to sustain their operations and enhance their development. In the case of Vaca Muerta, although private investment continues to expand, Maciel warned that it is insufficient without the basic infrastructure that only the State can provide: roads, power lines, rail networks, and gas pipelines. The lack of public works is limiting the growth capacity of the sectors that the Government itself considers key to development, he concluded. |
