Hiring Strategies During Labor Shortages

USNEWS– The United States has a building problem. The country that paved one of the most expansive highway and transportation systems on the planet, that festooned a riverside between Maryland and Virginia with ornate marble and sandstone statues, columns and monuments in the creation of the nation’s capital, that introduced architectural marvels to the world ranging from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Empire State Building to the Space Needle, is now dogged by an ailing construction industry.

A common thread has waylaid the building of a much-anticipated senior community in Oro Valley, Arizona, forced Exxon Mobil to retool the construction of what would be the world’s largest ethylene plant in San Patricio County, Texas, and spurred Home Depot into investing $50 million into skills training programs over the next 10 years: there simply aren’t enough construction workers to keep up with demand.

As a nation, it is always positive when we see our national unemployment rate as low as it has been this year. When more individuals are employed, the positive ripple effect is felt throughout the economy. We want people to be able to provide for their families and a lower unemployment rate allows more mothers and fathers to support their children. While we can agree that in most circumstances a low unemployment rate is overwhelmingly positive, there are certain groups who face problems because of it.

Hiring managers, the people responsible for filling positions, make up this group. As the unemployment rate continues to drop so does the number of qualified individuals available to fill jobs. This becomes a particularly large problem in the construction industry where companies come to a crossroads of hiring under qualified employees or missing out on jobs. Thankfully, there are measures to take to maintain success on the job when faced with this situation.

Take the time to hire the right people.

While this should be no surprise, companies need to utilize their resources to hire the right people. In labor shortages as we’re seeing now, this may mean looking outside the normal recruiting circles or exploring staffing services that may otherwise go unused. Finding a staffing service that provides a high level of support for their workers can be the difference between a good hire or a quick fire.

Thoroughly train all employees.

Having properly trained employees can be the deciding factor on a project’s success. New employees must be properly trained, reminded and encouraged to consistently follow the safety rules and regulations of the job site, but also to understand the reason why they must follow all rules.

The importance of safety is not just for the operational implications to the company, but the effect it has on employee’s lives away from work. Take the time to educate employees not only on how to be safe, but more importantly why.