Construction declines: 7 out of 10 business owners say their activity has plummeted

A new report from the Construya Group revealed that the construction industry is going through one of its most critical periods in recent years. According to the 26th edition of the Construya Opinion Study (EOC) , conducted between March 31 and April 25, 2025, nearly 70% of business owners in the sector stated that their level of activity had fallen compared to the previous year .

The survey, which polled 506 professionals across the country , shows a widespread picture of contraction . In all regions, the majority response was a drop in activity levels , with the most pronounced decline in the Buenos Aires region , where 69% of respondents also reported a decrease in their workload.

Among those who reported a decline, the majority indicated a decrease of more than 20% , while another significant group estimated it to be between 10% and 20% annually. In contrast, only 14% reported an improvement , although most of these increases were less than 10% annually .

The survey also detailed the main challenges currently facing the industry. Nationally, business leaders identified the high cost of construction , low market demand , and currency uncertainty as the most critical factors.

In the Buenos Aires Region , the most relevant problems were:

• Higher construction cost (26%)
• Uncertainty about the exchange rate (15%)
• Lower demand (14%)
• Lack of financing and skilled labor (8%)

In particular, architects highlighted the shortage of skilled labor as one of the main current challenges, highlighting a structural bottleneck that affects both productivity and project quality.

Despite the complex outlook, the Construya Expectations Indicator (IEC) showed a largely optimistic trend nationwide for next year. Forty-five percent of business owners in the Buenos Aires region believe their activity will increase , although 29% foresee a further decline . Nationally, 24% also anticipate a decline .

One of the issues that continues to affect the sector is the lack of financial tools . Thirty percent of respondents stated they self-finance , while 24% do not use any type of financing at all , which limits the development of new projects, especially in a context of high inflation and volatile exchange rates .

Despite the decline, the report highlights that 35% of respondents continue to view construction as the best method of saving , reaffirming its strategic role in the Argentine economy. This perception remains strong even in an adverse environment, where margins are shrinking and uncertainty prevails.

Given this scenario, the challenge for the coming months will be twofold: reactivating private demand in a recessionary context and ensuring macroeconomic stability that will allow for a return to long-term projections.

Construction , historically one of the drivers of employment and investment, remains in intensive care . And although some business leaders are confident of a medium-term recovery, the revival will depend on concrete measures that alleviate costs, reduce obstacles, and restore predictability to the sector.