Labor shortage is one of the current issues facing the construction industry. It has been affecting various projects that struggle to fulfill these demands to the fullest, leading to delays in the construction process. So, what's causing this worker shortage in construction? And more importantly, how can we get things moving again? Read this blog to learn the causes of labor shortage in construction projects and ways to overcome it using different approaches.
What is causing the labor shortage?
Labor shortage occurs when the industry lacks the available workers to meet the needs. It may be because of different reasons, such as:
- Aging workforce: Many older, more experienced workers are at or reaching retirement age, and not enough younger workers exist to replace them.
- Skills gap: The industry is changing, but the skills for current jobs do not match the existing workforce because the workers come from different domains of work with various skills. On the other hand, the construction industry competes with others to find construction labor.
- Economic crisis: Past recessions and economic downturns led to layoffs, and many workers who left the industry have not returned. Immigration restrictions have tightened, which means fewer workers are coming in to fill the gaps.
- Work ambiguity: Work ambiguity is the main reason why the count of construction labor decreased. Unorganized workflow and improper work logs lead to wage differences, which cause a worker shortage.
What are the ways to overcome these challenges?
Let us dive into some practical and actionable solutions.
Embrace technology and automation
The best way to mitigate the problems caused by worker shortage is by adopting technology and automation and implementing robotic equipment and other technologies in construction.
Automate the approvals and other operations to save time and reduce the labor work. InnTime automates time-tracking, approvals, and payroll processes to reduce manual work, which makes it easy to manage the project with limited labor and allows the workers to focus on more critical project tasks easily.
Work order management
Every worker needs proper work management. To implement this, organize the tasks among laborers and allow them to track the work progress in real-time.
Works are segregated into different tasks, which gives a clear picture of reduced ambiguity in the workflow. InnPMIS lays a solid foundation by creating detailed Work Breakdown Structures (WBS).
Invest in training and development
Investment in training and development is necessary and will help you fill-up the skill gaps by upskilling your existing workforce. Offer training programs that focus on the latest construction techniques, safety protocols, and the effective use of technology.
Attract young talent
Collaborate with educational institutions, provide internships, and create apprenticeship programs to ensure that more young professionals join the profession and are well-trained.
Improve working conditions
A positive working environment would attract and retain employees. Site safety should be implemented in a healthy work environment. Competitive compensation, adequate benefits, and better career opportunities attract high-quality workers.
With InnPMIS, you can track every safety requirement with connected work logs and calendars, performing inspections on time. You can also leverage data-driven insights to identify high-risk areas and keep your workforce safe throughout the project lifecycle.
Utilize subcontractors
Subcontractors will provide the necessary assistance to ensure the timely completion of projects. Ensure good relations with reliable subcontractors to guarantee their availability when needed.
InnPMIS helps to communicate with subcontractors hassle-free. On-time payments reinforce good relationships with subcontractors. With automated processes, every payment is aligned with the contractual terms.
Final words:
At Inncircles, we are well aware of labor shortage problems. We also have effective project management software that shows the work logs and ensures on-time delivery with limited laborers.
Do you have a problem with a smaller number of construction labor? Let our construction management software help you to digitize the work logs and help to overcome the labor shortage.