For any work to be completed perfectly and on time, you will need a skilled labourer who understands what's required. In construction, you will quickly identify a skilled worker by their emphasis on quality production. A skilled labourer is one who enjoys working with hand tools and gets great satisfaction by transforming the different raw materials available to him into a great masterpiece. These individuals understand their job and are a valuable resource on any construction site. They have specialised training and loads of experience in their various specialisation.
The number of skilled workers in the construction industry is however declining. This has put a strain on construction firms and has led to delayed projects and the turning down of big projects that could lead to an increase in the number of cheap housing for residents.
A survey by the National Center for Construction and Research in the United States showed that 92% of construction firms reported a shortage of skilled labourers and 85% of those interviewed agreed that they lacked a skilled workforce. This shortage has led to construction companies retaining their workforce and offering high incentives to prevent them from being poached by competitors. The cost of houses has increased because these construction firms try to bridge the gap by increasing prices so as not to run at a loss.
The Reasons Behind Labour Shortage
Lack of a skilled workforce slows down any construction work and leads to a longer waiting period that leaves clients dissatisfied. There are causes of this labour shortage, and it's important for any construction firm to work with their current team to produce quality projects in time for their clients. Some of the reasons that led to this labour shortage are:
Lack of Education
The number of young people trained in construction has significantly dropped. This resulted in the absence of enough skilled workers introduced to the trade. Construction firms did not also hire young workers because they were unwilling to train them. They saw it as an added expense that could be avoided, and this led to the labour shortage of a skilled workforce in those firms. That's why, properly trained workers are very appealing candidates for any construction company at the moment. In the United Kingdom, for instance,
the Green CSCS card holders are one step ahead of competition.
A Change In The Economy
The American example is very representative in this case. The great recession affected several sectors of the economy and it resulted in a massive loss of employments. Construction firms were hit by this change in the economy. The number of workers who were left jobless with this change of economy moved elsewhere to look for employment. Some turned to truck drivers, and others went to the oil industry. These labourers did not return to construction even when things got better. After the recession, there was a boom, and the demand for housing increased significantly. This demand could not be met because there was a gap. The number of skilled labourers was at its lowest. Construction firms resorted to keeping workers who had reached retirement age to meet the rising demand. This move led to knowledge and skills concentrated in the old workers.
Changes In Technology
As the economy improved, there was a lot of technological advancement. The advent of new technologies has significantly changed the focus of today's workforce. The construction industry was affected because many workers shifted to the new computer era and sectors. They also did not upgrade their training to keep up with the technological changes. This made them lag behind and led to the loss of the skilled workforce.
Stringent Immigration Policies
The strict immigration policies made it difficult for foreign workers to move to a different country in order to work. This issue is expected to get bigger and bigger during the upcoming years as immigration policies are becoming stricter around the world. According to the National Home Builders Association, only in the United States, 22% of the skilled workforce is consisted of foreigners. The United Kingdom is another striking case. Brexit will most probably have a big impact on the amount of workers who are moving to Great Britain.
What The Future Brings
By now, it's clear that the construction industry is on a very crucial path. The need for further digitisation of the construction process, as an outcome of new technological achievements, is dramatically changing the field. Under this circumstances, here are a few essential points that you should take into serious consideration:
New Type Of Workforce
As we already mentioned before, the construction procedure has changed a lot during the last years. The evolution of construction software had led to a more automated project management process.
This new reality has created different needs for the type of workforce that construction firms are looking for. A more technological savvy workforce is expected to take over construction in the upcoming years. This will contribute significantly to the amelioration of the existing situation and to the increase of efficiency in the sector.
Improved Profile For The Industry
A substantial improvement of the industry's profile is expected, as well. More specifically, the higher the investment on technology the more appealing it can get for young highly skilled workers who are searching for the next step in their career. Such a shift could help construction to overcome the existing shortage and offer long-term promising career opportunities for well-trained individuals.
Focus On Training
Last but certainly not least, proper training! The technological disruption of the industry has led to the need for more competent workers. For that reason, thorough training is considered fundamental. Particularly in big and highly professional markets, like in the UK, you have to make sure that you have acquired the right certification. The Green CSCS card is a must for a successful future in labouring occupations.
Conclusion
Construction firms have been affected by this shortage, and this has resulted in the increase in stalled projects. Their projects have been slowed down because the workforce available cannot handle that magnitude of work at the desired rate. The number of dissatisfied clients increased and some court cases filed against these firms for the delayed projects. This has trickled down to the end consumer who has to bear the brunt because these companies have also increased prices to bridge the gap.
The above was a guest post from GenieBelt
About the author: Anastasios Koutsogiannis is Content Marketing Manager at GenieBelt, a real-time project management software and mobile app. 
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