A first presentation from fieldwork in the construction industry and construction worker schools, in search of reasons for perceived recruitment problems. The Swedish construction industry, much like that in many other European countries, is facing recruitment difficulties since many years. The collective of construction workers is highly homogenous – male and white. It is also lacking craftsmen over 50, partly due to the physical demands and many accidents in previous decades but also today. 

The ground floor management present lacking interest from the young as a key cause of recruitment problems. They claim the industry “lacks in status” and the young “lack in attitude”. The school teachers, on their side, claim the companies only accept “perfect staff”, and this can’t be expected from school youngsters. They also claim the industry has a problem with racism that discourages many students from entering the business.