3 Tips for Dealing With the Construction Labor Shortage

Written by Kindra Ting
June 2, 2022

As the demand for housing and commercial properties increases, the labor shortage in the construction industry is ever more apparent.

The construction industry has been grappling with a labor shortage problem for over a decade. Still, as the number of projects increases across all states every year, companies are struggling more and more with the difficulty of finding skilled workers to occupy vacancies.

So why is there a construction labor shortage? What are the ramifications, and what can you do to deal with the industry’s lack of readily available labor? Here’s how to adapt, and how the SmartBarrel device can help your company curb its effects.

What’s causing the construction labor shortage?

Along with balancing costs, labor availability proves to be one of the most prevalent issues for builders and contractors across the United States. By understanding the causes, companies struggling with recruiting and retaining qualified workers (whether hourly or salaried) can carry out solutions to address it.

Workers reaching retirement age

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 30% of construction laborers in 2021 were between 45 and 64 years old, with baby boomers and generation X accounting for the majority of the workforce.

Along with the huge percentage of workers who have already retired, many workers within the next decade are expected to reach retirement age, exacerbating an already precarious issue. Many of these workers will have in-demand skills or be in management positions, leaving a significant gap in the workforce.

Inability to attract young workers

With older workers retiring in droves, there’s also a notable deficit of skilled young workers to fill their vacant positions.

Young workers are opting for positions in engineering, technology, healthcare, and social services, leaving the competing construction industry with a shortage despite the surplus of high-paying positions available.

This has in part to do with imaging, with the construction seen as a less rewarding, more labor-intensive industry. Many schools have also placed less focus on skilled trades and more emphasis on four-year degrees, driving young workers to seek out white-collar jobs.

Recessions

Nationwide economic difficulties have also contributed significantly to the labor shortage.

The Great Recession in 2008 saw a loss in as many as 630,000 construction workers, a big hit to the industry that would slow down the rate of home-building, resulting in even more stagnation and diminishing returns.

More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the construction labor shortage, with construction having one of the highest COVID-positive rates of any industry. Increasing changes in employee health have contributed to uncertainty as workers hesitate to return to job sites or leave to pursue other industries.

What’s the result of the construction shortage?

Especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, worker loss has caused an increase in scheduled project delays as buildings take longer to be completed. Projects have even been canceled altogether.

As a result, companies have been unable to accept newer projects since there’s not enough available labor to complete them.

The difficulty in finding qualified construction workers has caused employees already in the industry to be overworked as they’re expected to fill in the labor gap, resulting in burnout and a decrease in the quality of work.

Some companies have attempted to counteract the shortage and meet demands by hiring lesser-skilled or inexperienced workers, but in an industry where certifications and adhering to safety regulations are such a huge priority, it’s a large risk.

Not only does it increase hazards for everyone down the line, but simple mistakes have the potential to cost companies several thousands of dollars, which is all the more dire when costs have increased and financing has tightened.

What can be done to curb the construction labor shortage?

Here’s what you can do to circumvent more pressure being placed on your already understaffed workplace, prevent decreasing the quality of your hired workers, and accomplish more with less labor.

1. Modernize your job site

The simplest way to make the most of your existing workforce is to invest in new technology.

Making the job site more efficient with more advanced systems eases the labor burden for workers on and off the field, speeding up production, reducing costs, and contributing to a more comfortable work environment, which can help with worker retention.

Using gadgets like the SmartBarrel device to collect and manage data decreases paper waste, increases accuracy, and lets you do more with fewer resources since it automates processes and frees up labor for more important tasks. It essentially streamlines core operations, increasing overall productivity.

Various workplace planning and resource management tools can also provide valuable insights, such as profit margins and workforce utilization rates. Machine-generated analytics can assist you in making more informed business decisions in labor-management, helping you deal with the construction industry labor shortage.

The best construction technologies will ideally:

Improve communication between teams, so they spend less time waiting around for updates,
Reduce unnecessary downtime, and
Increase worker safety through personal protective equipment verification.

Not only can implementing the right technology have a dynamic impact on job site efficiency, but modernization also lets you attract younger, tech-savvy talent by demonstrating a willingness to adapt and change.

2. Invest in your workers

Once you have good workers, it’s important to retain them since high turnover rates can be damaging to profits and remaining employees. This also helps you combat the labor shortage in the construction industry.

Placing more priority on developing a company culture increases engagement from workers, incentivizing them to stay. This can include regularly asking for feedback and encouraging team members to give opinions, voice their concerns, and recommend improvements.

It’s also important to reward workers and give positive feedback whenever possible to promote your company’s values and improve team morale.

Offering your workers better wages and benefits (such as health insurance and company perks) makes your company more attractive, allowing you to stand out from other construction firms competing for high-quality candidates.

Giving workers opportunities for growth and offering rewarding work can instill a sense of loyalty. Consider investing in further training and continuing education courses to help employees develop valuable skills that they can contribute to the workplace.

3. Diversify how you’re attracting talent

Combat the construction labor shortage by branching out for recruitment.

Apprenticeships, internships, and student positions

Apprenticeships have traditionally been a pathway to a career in construction, and they’re definitely on the rise in the United States. Companies offering comprehensive apprenticeship programs have an edge on competing firms in attracting new workers.

Investing in programs that prioritize passing on knowledge and utilizing a combination of field training and classroom learning shows that companies have something to offer prospective employees. It gives them the opportunity to advance their trade and polish their professional skills.

You can also offer paid internships, co-ops, and student positions to college, trade school, and high school students. It’s not uncommon for companies to set up training programs with educational institutions.

Veterans and former military

Consider offering training opportunities to veterans and former, recently-returned members of the military. They’ll likely be looking to transition to civilian life by beginning a new career, making a position in the construction industry ideal.

Target workers from different sectors

The natural desire for career development can help you attract workers from other sectors. You may find luck recruiting focusing on industries with transferable skills, emphasizing meaningful, rewarding, and hands-on employment.

SmartBarrel, the solution to the construction industry labor shortage

Struggling with the construction labor shortage? Proper resource management can lessen its impact, with tools and software increasing efficiency to improve productivity and prevent delays. With fewer hands on-site, automating tasks and processes can help immensely.

The SmartBarrel device assists you with construction labor management, offering top-of-the-line features and integrations to lessen the burden.

General contractors benefit from: