The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the construction industry and caused many businesses to reevaluate the way they conduct projects and how they manage their staff. They implemented a variety of safety procedures on their job sites. These include proper social distancing and the increased use of personal protective equipment. During this unprecedented experience, businesses are constantly adapting to keep people healthy and projects moving forward.
Construction worker shortages reaching a critical point
That may prove to be an even more daunting challenge given the workforce shortage that has plagued the construction industry for years. In November 2021, there were nearly 7 million jobs in construction industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Through 2026, BLS projects faster-than-average employment growth.
The pandemic has outlined just how valuable the construction industry is to the future of our country. But even now, workforce shortages remain one of the single greatest threats to its success. Eighty percent of contractors have trouble finding talent to fill the trade positions that represent the majority of the industry’s workforce. That’s according to an industry-wide study the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America conducted with Autodesk.
Consequently, without a strong workforce, companies are unable to complete projects in a timely fashion. This trend is accelerated by early retirements, staff turnover and a reduced focus on trade education in high school. About half of America’s skilled trade employees are approaching retirement age, according to the Manhattan Institute. And they aren’t being replaced quickly as they are leaving the field. An estimated 2.4 million jobs could be unfilled by 2028.
Temporary staffing becomes a solution to construction workforce shortages
In a study performed by Marcum’s national Construction Services group:
- 41% of pre-pandemic respondents chose “securing skilled labor” as the No. 1 threat to their businesses.
- 67% of post-pandemic respondents projected either the same or higher backlogs.
During the Great Recession of 2008–09, construction businesses often furloughed or laid off workers. Meanwhile, they also eliminated apprenticeship programs that would have encouraged long-term careers in the industry. Many current or potential employees left the field and never returned.
Workforce shortages make construction projects more costly and slower to build. To combat these workforce shortages, construction businesses can leverage temporary tradespeople to supplement their critical workforce needs. This gives them time to consider their long-term staffing strategy.
Solving important workforce issues in your construction business
Using temporary general labor, general and skilled construction workers and skilled tradespeople solves three of the most important initiatives for today’s construction businesses:
- Meeting deadlines: Especially in a time of unprecedented delays and disruptions, construction businesses that fail to act quickly are at a disadvantage. Temporary tradespeople make it easy to scale your workforce on an as-needed basis to improve productivity. Also, if the tradesperson turns out to be a good fit, businesses may even consider hiring them on a permanent basis.
- Reducing stress: According to the ADP Workforce Vitality Index report, the construction industry has an average turnover rate of 58.4%. The main reason why employees leave? Feeling overworked. By supplementing your full-time workforce with temporary craftspeople, your business is better positioned to maintain a safe and healthy working environment while providing permanent crew members the extra help they need.
- Performing specialized tasks: In some cases, you may need additional support from those who have specific experience or expertise to complete projects. Temporary tradespeople can bring specialized skill sets that your full-time staff may not be able to provide. Hiring short-term employees who own the training or technical skills you need can fill important gaps in your workforce. This also helps you capitalize on new opportunities.
In summary, temporary tradespeople can help with a variety of tasks. These include new construction builds, clean-up and sanitizing efforts, maintenance tasks, and other projects. As a result, your business stays on track, providing some stability in a time of uncertainty.
Construction businesses can reduce the time and costs related to recruiting, screening and hiring new employees by partnering with a staffing agency. For convenient access to general labor on your construction site, contact PeopleReady today. Plus, our skilled trades division can connect you with skilled construction workers and tradespeople.
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