Preliminary study of Poland"s housing construction sector

Most of the large state-owned housing construction companies (kombinats) still exist, but are being challenged by private companies, while the huge housing cooperatives that have been the primary providers of housing are now competing with private developers. Large multifamily construction using pre- cast concrete panels still predominates, although traditional brick and concrete block construction is gaining ground. This report provides an overview of the Polish housing construction sector, covering private developers, private building contractors, housing cooperatives, state/municipal construction enterprises, a state/municipal construction management service, and a joint-stock building material supply firm. The study was based on interviews with construction sector officials in four cities -- Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, and Siedlce. The report concludes that, while the current housing construction sector is somewhat stagnant, prospects are encouraging. Many of the state- owned companies have made moves toward privatization, and the degree of competitiveness among private construction firms is astonishing, given that such firms have existed for only a year or so in their present form. Although skilled labor is in short supply, an ample labor pool exists in most regions. However, there is a clear need to improve the image of construction work as a desirable occupation rather than as "accidental" work. Finally, there is a match between the current abundance of construction materials and the enormous pent-up market for housing.