Post-municipal elections: Public procurement of engineering services must resume to prepare for the future

In the wake of the municipal elections, Syntec-Ingénierie calls on public authorities to reinvest in our cities and infrastructure. This is essential to support economic growth and strengthen our country in an increasingly uncertain international context.

A historic decline in public procurement

The latest figures for public engineering contracts, from the annual study conducted by Vecteur Plus for Syntec-Ingénierie, are unequivocal: in 2025, the market will fall by 15% in value compared to 2024. Adjusted for inflation, these figures bring public engineering contracts back to their pre-Covid-19 crisis level, wiping out six years of growth. The building sector is the hardest hit, with a collapse of 27% in value.

France has ceased to build or even maintain its heritage

During the post-war boom, the state and local authorities built transport, water, and electricity networks, as well as school and hospital facilities that still shape our country today. This infrastructure is insufficiently maintained, and its vulnerability is exacerbated by climate change. The "grey debt," this invisible liability linked to decades of underinvestment, continues to grow. As the Court of Auditors has pointed out, the cost of inaction far exceeds that of preventative investment.

The municipal effect: when municipalities stop investing

The municipal elections of March 2026 had their effects well before election day. Local municipalities, the country's leading public investors, now finance only 36% of the volume of projects at the local level, compared to an average of 41% over five years. This typical end-of-term phenomenon has taken on unprecedented proportions due to budgetary constraints. Engineering is a leading indicator for the construction industry: generally, when studies decline, construction projects follow a year later. The 15% drop in 2025 suggests a significant contraction in construction and infrastructure activity in 2026 and 2027.

Reinventing our cities, reviving investment

The new municipal and inter-municipal teams bear a historic responsibility. Local authorities account for 56% of the volume and 47% of the value of public engineering contracts. Energy-efficient building renovations, modernization of public transport, adaptation of networks to climate change, and revitalization of town centers: these projects can no longer be postponed.

Syntec-Ingénierie advocates for an investment policy structured around three pillars: securing projects already underway, to avoid a destructive "stop-and-go", systematically evaluating the cost of inaction and multi-year infrastructure planning to guarantee the continuity of investments.

For Michel Kahan, president of Syntec-Ingénierie: “France has never invested so little in preparing for its future. The 2025 figures are a warning sign that we cannot ignore. We call on the new municipal teams, the State, and all public stakeholders to launch a genuine recovery plan. French engineering is ready to mobilize. What it needs is public procurement that meets the country's challenges.”

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.