The stone, sand, and clay quarrying sector in Spain has experienced a significant downward trend in employment from 2013 to 2023, with the number of employees decreasing from 12.41 thousand to 6.58 thousand. This represents a continuous decline, accentuated in recent years with year-on-year variations of -13.92% in 2021, -13.8% in 2022, and -15.85% in 2023. The average annual decrease (CAGR) over the last five years was -9.1%.
Looking forward, the sector is forecasted to face an accelerated decline, with the number of persons employed expected to drop sharply by 2028. The forecasted CAGR over the next five years for this period is -36.2%, leading to an overall reduction of approximately 89.43% by 2028.
Future trends to watch for:
- Technological advancements and automation in quarrying operations, potentially reducing human labor needs.
- Regulatory changes and environmental policies impacting the industry's operational landscape.
- Market demand fluctuations in construction and infrastructure projects influencing quarrying activities.
- Potential shifts in investment towards sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives reducing reliance on traditional quarrying.
