Why There Is A Shortage Of Skilled Labour In Construction Industry?

Dive Brief

The sector of construction is one of the leading drivers of a country’s economy. However, shortage of skilled labor is a big challenge for this field that greatly relies on the workforce. Specialists and employers in the construction recruitment agencies are experiencing immediate inadequate qualified skilled labors in the modern job market.  Although the industry remains a significant area of employment, the social and economy growth, and the skill gap pose a major threat in derailing the market in its recovery.

The construction skilled labor shortage has created a big existing gap in labor forces immensely affecting the overall economy of a country. There is the limited growth of business endangering the abilities of knowledgeable trades people being able to pass down their skills to the future generation of workers.

 A survey was done recently by the home service website and marketplace, HomeAdvisor, 93% of the respondents believe that in a span of a year, the shortage of labor would prevent their business from expanding. Besides that, 70% of respondents believe that it would be very hard for them to find new employees.

 Most employers are beloved that lack of exposures to a highly skilled field of labor, prevents the younger generation from diving into business trades. There is the current negative perception of trades as a career gap and a visibly small training option especially for those who want to pursue a construction craftsmanship career.

Dive Insight

Currently, there is an imbalance in the construction industry. Though the construction sector seems to be on solid ground, its foundation is slowly eroding, and most employers fear that there aren't many bricklayers, project managers and plumbers coming in to replace and repair them. Thus, this can mainly be attributed to the diminishing uptake of the personnel who are professional, an aging staff and a great boom in the investment than which the industry can adequately handle.

While undoubtedly the output is increasing, inadequate and unqualified personnel is impeding any growth. As the private and public spending on the construction increases, the resources, on the other hand, become outstretched. The holes in the skilled labor market become heightened. In the absence of a solution, it might be necessary to re-address and invest in the skills opposed to the production. The shrinking workforces’ worries a lot of employers, thus failure to bring new entrants could prove more detrimental to the long-term value and prospects in the construction industry. 

The shortage of labor reveals an imbalance of generational workforce since the current workforce in the market is aging and there is a lot of struggle in attracting the millennials into the ranks. The booming baby generation is gradually reaching the finish line of its career path, and the employers are inexplicably concerned with the young workers who aren’t coming through so as to replace them.

A tremendous opportunity will result if more resources of education such as apprenticeships and mentorships created for the younger generation. They will gain exposure and benefits that come along with successful craftsmanship and as an independent business owner.

 The issue of skilled labor would not last more and hope there will be no further imbalance in the construction industry in coming future.