Quintana Roo Construction Demand Jumps 40% on Hotel Renovations

Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo — Demand for construction workers in Quintana Roo has risen by roughly 40 percent, driven mainly by hotel renovations and new tourism investment, according to Martín de la Cruz Gómez, the state leader of the CROC labor union.

De la Cruz Gómez said the state currently has jobs on offer, though not every vacancy matches the profiles, specialties or positions that job seekers are looking for.

“There is work, just not the work you’re looking for,” he said, describing the current state of the labor market.

As an example, he said an Iberostar hotel that normally employs around 600 people took on close to 2,500 workers during a renovation project, because of the additional hiring the construction work required.

De la Cruz Gómez said several hotels are modernizing their facilities to stay competitive, while new lodging projects move forward, keeping demand steady for labor in both construction and tourism services.

He added that new hotel investment continues to create job opportunities, but acknowledged that one of the main challenges is matching available vacancies with the profiles of people seeking work. CROC has also noted that renovation projects have helped keep jobs available during the low tourism season.