The construction industry continues to struggle with a labor shortage, and there are numerous reasons contributing to the issue.
Construction Dive shares the following top staffing challenges for construction in 2024.
- A lack of experience. A 2023 survey from Associated General Contractors of America shows many candidates do not have the right skills or experience to work in the construction industry. Additionally, many seasoned workers soon will age out; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports nearly half of construction workers are older than 45. As a result, many in the industry are promoting construction as a career alternative to college for young students. Some experts say shortened training windows and a focus on technology also could help combat the worker shortage.
- Transportation challenges. More than a quarter of respondents to the AGC survey said potential employees reported difficulty acquiring transportation to and from work—a significant issue. Large projects require many people, and not all workers can be found locally. Some employers are incentivizing carpooling, providing shuttles and offering more flexible schedules, but a long commute still can make it difficult to retain workers.
- Child care troubles. Many construction workers need flexible, quality child care, and because they may need to arrive early or stay late, available child care services do not always meet their needs. One in four respondents to the AGC survey reported workers needed flexible work schedules to help them with child care or care of another family member. Some major projects have offered on-site child care, but they often were one-off situations rather than long-term solutions.
- Drug use. One-third of respondents to the AGC survey said their potential workers often cannot pass drug tests. Construction faces an opioid epidemic and a mental health crisis where workers often turn to legal and illegal substances. Drug testing is about maintaining workplace safety, and regulations legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana have made things tricky for employers when it comes to testing.
Experts say higher pay and attractive culture—opportunities for advancement, better benefits—currently are some of the best ways to recruit and retain employees.
Be sure to check out NRCA’s Careers in Roofing website, which offers resources that highlight the roofing industry’s career opportunities and provides a recruitment tool for roofing companies.
