Given the economic plight of some Euro-zone countries such as Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain it may surprise some that there are opportunities for construction jobs in Europe. Even in the UK where we face potentially several years of belt tightening in public sector spending, there is still planned investment that will positively impact the construction industry.

However, it is Germany that is really thriving as we head towards the end of the year with optimism and indeed predictions that zero unemployment will be possible soon. The construction industry plays an important role within Germany with 52 percent of all German investments being construction projects.

In fact Germany?s construction industry is the biggest in Europe with 22 percent market share, and it has bounced back from the financial crisis of 2008/2009 with steady growth in the last year. This has been triggered mainly by modernisation projects and improvements on energy efficiency in buildings.

For skilled British workers, the drive for energy efficiency can lead to some opportunities for work not just in Germany but also construction jobs in Europe. In spite of the set back of the recessions construction jobs in Europe will be easier to find for workers with knowledge of energy efficiency in buildings.

Germany offers the greatest prospects for skilled workers looking for opportunities in Europe. Even in this great country there is a shortage of skilled workers in engineering for example, so if you are looking for overseas work Germany may be a good place to start your search.