"...Across the U.S. Construction managers are feeling pressure to hire more skilled workers in a short period of time, and they are turning to regionally focused training programs to strengthen the workforce." “The difficulty in finding skilled labor is the No. 1 problem faced by middle-market firms,” RSM Chief Economist Joe Brusuelas said. (BisNow)
The challenge is the number of workers planning to retire in coming years well exceeds the number of younger workers expected to join the construction workforce. "The skills gap has become problematic throughout the construction industry as millennials and Gen Z enter the workforce. From 2014 to 2024, the number of young people in the construction workforce is expected to increase by 3.2 million, according to a report from Urban Land Institute. Meanwhile, those expected to retire during the same time period will increase by 9.4 million. The resulting 6.2 million-worker deficit will further strain the construction industry. " (BisNow)
While communities work to build training at local colleges, and construction companies race to fill open labor spots, technology still marches forward with new advancements. This will likely create even more need for trained certified specialists in multiple construction software platforms, mobile apps, plus more need for data specialists and construction data management. How will construction companies find this trained staff and still meet their aggressive deadlines as the labor gap widens?
BarkerBlue, a leader in construction information management, can provide the data support needed. BarkerBlue helps construction and facilities teams better control cost, time, and risk over the entire lifecycle of a building by providing quality control, platform integration, audited fulfillment, and as-built data management of critical building information. Learn more about BarkerBlue at https://barkerbluebuild.com/ or email us at Build@Barkerblue.com.