In this blog series, you will find out that the skills gap is very real, in the construction industry, challenging companies to increase their agility and innovation in hiring and training workers.

Employee recruitment presents challenges in every industry, but the construction industry needs a strong kickback following the pandemic as the perception issues and finding new ways to interest current employees are the main recruitment challenges.

The Challenges

• Long-term workers have been the backbone of the industry but they are retiring and younger workers aren’t stepping in to fill the available positions.
• The skills gap and safety hazards make training a vital part of the industry. Losing trained employees is expensive so it is essential to find ways to attract young employees demonstrating the long-term benefits of a growing career and continuous learning philosophy in the industry.
• Blue-collar jobs are at disadvantage as schools, professionals, and parents push pupils in high schools toward higher education rather than an apprenticeship. The construction jobs pay well and provide employees with training on the job but it is not advertised enough to young employees.
• The construction sector does not encourage new recruiting techniques. This means lost opportunities to attract new employees to the industry.

Tips to recruit in the construction industry.

COVID is part of everyone’s lives, but with vaccines becoming widely taken and accepted by the populations, governments and businesses are lifting restrictions, providing interesting opportunities for construction companies to attract workers seeking a different industry. To compete with other industries, companies in the construction sector will need new techniques for recruiting construction employees.

• A different approach to recruitment is to meet potential employees where their job searches are. Maximizing the use of tools on platforms like LinkedIn is essential for your company to gain visibility and attract prospective employees. It will demonstrate to potential employees your ability to use technology for communication and collaboration in the field.
• Skilled employees who have remained with you during difficult times are living examples of what the work experience is like within your firm, make sure that they feel appreciated.
• Encourage your employees to be connected on social media as happy employees serve as brand ambassadors to job seekers around them.
• Invest money to review and improve your processes to attract and retain long-term employees to the company.
• Review your compensation scheme to attract new employees without affecting your loyal employees who have been sharing the load for years. Bonuses schemes and long-term incentives should be designed to encourage achievements and make all employees feel welcome and appreciated.
• Make sure that your training policies are well advertised to the potential and existing employees and clearly communicate that employees will be rewarded for their education efforts and hard work. By doing so your people will not be tempted to look somewhere else, it could also deter them from jumping to another job if they are hunted by your competitors.
• Regularly have one-on-one meetings with your staff, to make sure that their goals are in line with the company’s strategy, they will then feel comfortable to advertise the firm to their friends and introduce potential recruits.
• Constantly monitor the advancement in technology and improve your processes to attract younger employees seeking long-term placement and advancing careers.
• Learn how to communicate more efficiently without meeting face-to-face providing potential recruits with:
  • Digital Documents
  • Electronic signatures

In Conclusion

• Managing proactively and strategically your talents and your recruitment and selection processes, mapping out the types of workers and skills needed to fill vacancies allow you to be more focused and successful on your job screenings.

• Establishing training and development programs helps you to attract and retain talents

• Hiring the right skills and personalities helps you to create a culture where your employees feel comfortable and happy, boosting your profit. High and positive morale will reduce your staff turnover and contribute to your efficiency and productivity

Implementing BIM can be daunting, but Driving Vision is here to help you at the pace you are comfortable with. Get started by getting in touch now