Water-redispersible polymer powder compositions based on a) homo- or copolymers of one or more monomers from the group consisting of vinyl esters of unbranched or branched C1-15 alkylcarboxylic acids methacrylic esters and acrylic esters of C1-15 alcohols, vinylaromatics, olefins, dienes, and vinyl halides, with one or more protective colloids, and optionally, one or more antiblocking agents, in conjunction with one or more alkali metal or alkaline earth metal C1-4 carboxylates as setting accelerants added following polymerization accelerate the setting of construction chemistry products with hydraulically setting binders.