On a rehabilitation site, the first instinct of a construction economist is not to open a spreadsheet. It is to read a plan, identify the technical lots, and then translate each line into real cost. This ability to connect the drawing to the budget is not improvised: it is acquired through structured training, the steps of which determine credibility on the ground.
RE2020 and cost estimation: what training must cover since the adjustments of 2024
Training programs that ignore environmental regulations prepare profiles that are already obsolete. Decree No. 2024-1245 of December 28, 2024, modified the carbon and energy thresholds applicable to permits submitted after July 1, 2026. For an economist, this concretely changes the way to estimate a new project.
The constraints relate to the choice of materials, the trade-off between thermal performance and economic feasibility, and the justification of the variations proposed to the project owner. A construction economist training that integrates these parameters allows for realistic estimates to be produced from the sketch phase, without cascading corrections.
Knowing how to estimate a project in compliance with RE2020 distinguishes an operational profile from a theoretical one. When choosing a curriculum, it is important to check that the modules cover life cycle assessment (LCA) calculations applied to buildings, and not just the general principles of the regulation.
Training pathway in construction economics: professional title or BTS
Two main paths lead to the profession. The professional title at the bac +2 level remains the most direct entry point, accessible through continuing education or retraining. The BTS Economic Management of Construction (MEC), offered in alternation at several centers, combines work-based learning and technical education.
What differentiates the two diplomas in the field
The professional title emphasizes the practice of measurement and estimation. One learns to break down a structure into lots, to write a quantitative description, and to consult suppliers. The goal is to make the learner autonomous on a tender file within a few months.
The BTS MEC covers a broader spectrum: project management, financial monitoring of construction sites, coordination with design offices. Feedback varies on this point, but profiles from the BTS have easier access to positions as business managers or price study managers in general contracting companies.
- Professional title: short training, focused on measurement and estimation, suitable for retraining from another sector of construction or management
- BTS MEC: two-year program, often in alternation, leading to complete economic management missions
- Professional license or engineering degree: possible extensions to aim for positions in technical management or project management consulting
No initial diploma is strictly required to access the professional title. This is an asset for candidates in retraining, provided they do not underestimate the technical level expected upon graduation.
Technical skills to acquire during economist training
Reading an architect’s plan without hesitation is the foundation. But the training covers many other skills that job descriptions often summarize in two lines.
Measurement and quantitative description
Measurement involves measuring and quantifying each element of a structure from the plans. One calculates areas, volumes, and linear measurements. An error in measurement affects the entire estimation chain, from the initial quote to the final account. Practical exercises on real projects (collective housing, tertiary buildings, renovation) constitute the most formative part of the curriculum.
Digital tools and BIM model
Automated measurement software (Attic+, DeviSOC, for example) have become standards in firms and design offices. Training that does not include them leaves a blind spot. The digital BIM model adds an additional layer: extracting quantities directly from the 3D model accelerates estimation and reduces discrepancies between estimation and reality.
Knowledge of technical lots in construction
Structural work, framing, carpentry, HVAC, electricity, plumbing: each lot has its units of measurement, price ratios, and specificities. One does not estimate a fluid lot like one estimates a painting lot. The training must offer practical cases lot by lot, not just an overview.
- Structural work: volumes of concrete, reinforcement ratios, formwork
- Finishing work: surface areas of coverings, linear measurements of partitions, carpentry by type
- Technical lots (HVAC, electricity): service points, power, lengths of networks
- VRD and outdoor developments: earthworks, buried networks, asphalt
Job market for construction economists in the construction sector
The position of construction economist is among the jobs in demand in the construction sector. Profiles that are immediately operational, capable of producing reliable estimates from their first day, find employment quickly. However, DARES projections indicate stable, even slightly declining prospects by 2030, rather than a massive expansion of job openings.
This context encourages the choice of training that prioritizes practical experience. An internship in an economics firm or an apprenticeship in a construction company provides credibility that the diploma alone does not guarantee. Recruiters are looking for profiles that know how to estimate, not profiles that know how to describe the profession.
Job opportunities are distributed among specialized firms, design offices, general construction companies, developers, and local authorities. The energy renovation sector, driven by regulatory requirements, generates a constant demand for skills in estimation and economic monitoring of works.
The choice of curriculum, mastery of digital tools, and the ability to integrate recent regulatory constraints form a triptych that conditions professional integration. An economist trained on concrete cases and up to date on RE2020 starts with a head start in a market where the precision of estimation remains the primary recruitment criterion.
