3 MAJOR INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY IS SOLVING FOR TODAY
2
NAVIGATING THE LABOR SHORTAGE
Currently, the injection of billions into repairing aging, deteriorating infrastructures around the world is a welcome development. But an injection of labor is what industries like construction and manufacturing will need to effectively tackle and succeed at those often-mega-sized projects, as the pervasive shortage of both skilled and general labor has tempered some of the excitement for even the most promising opportunities in those industries.
How can construction companies not only prepare themselves for large future projects but also meet the challenge with confidence and a brighter outlook? While the anticipated effect of the infrastructure boom on the demand for workers presents a challenge for the construction industry, it also presents an opportunity.
The key to overcoming labor shortages will lie in proactive planning and strategic management. That means it’s going to be up to construction companies to have solid labor acquisition, retention, and safety strategies in place. The labor shortage may worsen before it gets better, but these strategies can help soften its impact as infrastructure projects gear up.
TRAIN AND UPSKILL CURRENT WORKERS
One strategy is to identify either existing skills gaps or high-demand areas for specific expertise needed on the jobsite and offer worker training in those areas. Provide in-person (on-site or at a local partner school) and online training options where possible, with the understanding that younger workers tend toward online as they’re more familiar and comfortable with that format. Why? Because when workers have more than one area of demonstrable knowledge and skill, they become more flexible. In addition, they can easily transition to where and when you need them.
For example, you may need people skilled in operating excavating equipment at the beginning of an extensive infrastructure project. Or you may find you’re short on workers who know how to safely handle waste removal throughout that project. Finding people with those skills could turn into a challenge on the open market, where there could be a pronounced labor shortage for the skills or experience you’re looking for. But cross-functional training of workers in more than one skill ensures that even a lean team is nimble enough to keep job tasks progressing.
Another strategy is to upskill those who are either tech-savvy or at least tech-curious in some of the construction technology that is becoming part of the mainstream “tools” of the trade. It could be anything from using mobile checklists to do quality assurance or safety walkthroughs, or how to access and understand performance metrics via dashboards so they can take more ownership in job progress. In addition, they can be learning how to work with augmented reality wearables to help those in the back office assess progress at different points throughout the jobsite.
Prioritizing skill development of existing employees shows them you’re willing to invest in them. And they’ll be more likely to stick around when they know they’re valued and trusted to take on more.
ENFORCE JOBSITE SAFETY TO REDUCE WORKER ABSENCES
Every worker that winds up as an injury statistic is one less worker on your team, and that contributes to the labor shortage, either temporarily or permanently. Not only does it jeopardize completing a job task on time, but you’re left scrambling trying to replace that person on short notice. The goal then is to have safety measures in place to reduce the likelihood of injury. This may take on even more urgency as many infrastructure projects due for retrofitting and repair have already been deemed safety risks. Even more reason to have a strategy in place before sending everyone out on the jobsite.
The sooner hazards are detected, the more quickly they can be addressed. Start by implementing the processes that uncover them — rolling punch lists, safety inspection checklists, and commissioning walkthroughs — at the beginning of the projects. Especially for complex infrastructure projects, shifting the timeline shifts the intent from reactive repair to proactive prevention, identifying any structural or jobsite safety hazards that can physically hurt and sideline anyone on the jobsite.
Take advantage of today’s field technologies that can reduce exposure to physical and environmental hazards and potential injuries. These could be drones that conduct inspections of multistory buildings and difficult-to-access places that would otherwise put human inspectors in harm’s way. Think, too, of “smart” technology in the form of wearables or jobsite sensors that alert workers to nearby hazards or when unfavorable health-impacting environmental conditions develop.
RECRUIT FOR BOTH ON AND OFF THE JOBSITE
By nature, people tend not to gravitate toward places or positions where they haven’t seen themselves represented. Proactively breaking the mold of the typical construction worker stereotype, which has been predominantly male, can help change this. In other words, grow and diversify your workforce by embracing diversity. Actively recruiting people of different races, cultures, genders, and ethnicities invites their unique perspectives and fresh ideas on how to solve problems, collaborate, and find consensus.