The clay building materials industry in Spain experienced notable fluctuations in hours worked between 2013 and 2023. From 2013 to 2017, there was variability with both decreases and increases, culminating in a substantial peak in 2017 with a year-on-year increase of 10.07%. Post-2017, moderate growth continued until 2019, followed by a decline due to the COVID-19 impact in 2020. Over the last two years, the trend showed significant drops, with 2022 and 2023 witnessing decreases of 8.41% and 9.09% respectively. By 2023, the industry stood at 23.951 million hours, marking a considerable fall over the decade.
Looking ahead, projections indicate a continued downturn in hours worked, with forecast data showing a steep annual average decline of 10.59% over the next five years. This translates to an anticipated overall reduction of 42.86% by 2028.
Future trends to watch for include technological advancements and automation, which may further reduce required man-hours. Additionally, the shift towards sustainable materials could influence demand and labor distribution within the industry.
