1. Why don't people want to work in construction?
The construction industry has been hit particularly hard by the current labor shortage. As Millenials and Gen Z quickly grow to take over the majority of the global workforce, contractors are having a hard time filling gaps left by retirement and resignations.
There are three main reasons why:
Dangerous working conditions
Outdated processes
Traditional company structures
Dangerous working conditions
Construction is by far the deadliest industry.
Workers who prioritize their own health and safety over career benefits hesitate to enter a profession with such a high risk of death and injury.
Outdated processes
Many contractors still use pen and paper processes or outdated software and devices.
Most workers use technology to share information and make their personal lives easier every day. They don't want to waste valuable work hours on tasks that could be made much simpler by modern conveniences.
Traditional company structures
Construction is a skilled trade, and skill comes with experience. Seasoned contractors have valuable knowledge to pass onto the next generation of the workforce.
However, less and less young workers are entering into the skilled trades. They're turning away from the traditional structure of the construction industry in favor of careers with faster growth trajectories or higher starting earning potential.
2. How can you find qualified candidates?
With a smaller talent pool, you should take a critical look at your hiring practices, starting with your job descriptions.
When you're writing about an open position, remember to include all the necessary information—including salary or pay rates. Today, most employees want to know what a company considers fair pay for a position before they'll apply.
Include some insight into your company culture and any potential growth opportunities. List the technology the employee in the position will need to know or learn to use on the job.
Most people search for new work exclusively online. If you aren't hiring exclusively through a union, post your job descriptions using online job boards. Be sure to use multiple boards to get your listing in front of the largest amount of potential candidates.
You can also go through recruiters or get involved in work study or apprenticeship programs run by local trade schools and colleges.
3. What are potential hires looking for?
Potential hires want to know working for your business will be a valuable experience for them.
Today, applicants have plenty of tools at their disposal to find job job listings and research salary information. There are many jobs that offer significant pay that can be done remotely or that come with less risk than a career in construction.
As a construction business, you need to show potential hires that learning a skilled trade has long-lasting financial and professional benefits. Show candidates that you embrace modern employee values and invest in tools that help them stay safe and work efficiently.
4. Make the workday easier for employees with Raken
Streamline your workflows and give your crew an easy way to capture and share updates from the field. Raken's mobile app gives you quick access to daily reports, time cards, and checklists to help your business manage project data in one place.