Half of construction firms CEOs give thumbs down to housing policies

Half of the CEOs of 40 construction firms  that took part in the Construction Industry Barometer 2025 survey have given the thumbs down to the government’s public housing policies concludes a survey from the Mestre Casais Foundation in partnership with the construction industry association AICCOPN.

They say that they do not believe that the current housing policies are adequate for the next two years, or energize the market and create growth in the sector.

According to the results of the barometer, the confidence of these CEOs in the Portuguese economy, despite the indicators continuing to be positive, fell from 6.60 points in 2024 to 6.35 points in 2025 on a scale of 10.

Only 43% agree that public investment in expected infrastructures over the next five years is suitable to support the sector’s growth.

Among the main external threats they have highlighted are low growth in the European and World economies and a sharp and sudden rise in inflation.

The CEOs, states the survey, “clearly distinguish between the current buoyant market and the poor quality of political-institutional framework”.

On the other hand, the CEOs conclude that the sector is growing more, but from a fragile base while 88% of the companies expect to meet or exceed their annual targets and 100% expect growth for 2025.

Moreover, 30% believe that their growth will exceed 15%. The growth is lead by the residential sector (39%), followed by other buildings (31%) and infrastructure (30%).

All told, the barometer shows that the sector is enjoying a strong economic dynamic but mostly based on current demand (housing and the private market) rather than from structural gains in productivity.”

SOURCE: Negócios