Over the years, there has been a lot of pressure on people to get four-year degrees, leading to a significant drop in the number of students and adults who want to work in construction, leaving the industry with a labor shortage and a critical skills gap.
When managing construction projects, your employees are your most important resource. However, a job in the construction industry can be very challenging, making it hard for project managers and general contractors to attract top talent and retain their employees. People might think that working in construction is not worth it or be at risk of getting burned out. Every job has some stress, but people who work in construction have to deal with a lot of physical and mental stress.
At every level of the construction business, there is an increasing demand for more skilled workers. According to an article by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the industry needs over 500,000 workers to meet the demand for labor (Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half a Million in 2023, Says ABC | News Releases). Increasing salaries and wages is one-way construction companies attract and keep workers. However, many people still need to see more appeal in the trade – companies need to develop new perks and incentives to fill future jobs.
How The Right People Can Help Your Construction Business Reach Greater Heights
Many things come to mind when you think about the essential parts of your business – profitability, marketing, or the planning and construction phase of the project. But that is far from the most important thing your company has – the answer is managing the tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people who work for your business. People make all intangible assets – essential to making money and giving value to shareholders. The success or failure of your business comes down to the people who work there, so you will need to have an efficient construction workforce management system in place.
So, it is your job to invest in your people by ensuring they are satisfied with their careers. Employers need to realize that an employee who is happy and driven is likelier to make essential contributions to the company. In this section, let us highlight your employees’ critical role in your company’s success.
Employees Help Your Organization Achieve Its Goals
If your company has happy, satisfied employees, it can achieve results dependent on their performance. Your employees are not only the ones who carry out your organization’s mission, but they also keep your company going. All stages of your business, from the marketing and admin work to the daily operations, are run by the people who work there. With them, your company will be able to move on a plateau.
Employees Are The Public Face of The Company
The most important thing is how happy your workers are with their jobs. So, if a worker has a bad experience with your company, he might say bad things about the company, discouraging clients and potential employees from working. Also, a stressed employee will not be motivated to work hard and will only do a good job, leading to poor performance. Because of this, you need to invest in their employees and treat them well.
Employees Keep Your Company Going
Employees are the ones who put their care into their company by living by its values and working hard to make it the best it can be. As a result, you should also care about your workers as much as your customers. If you trust and respect your employees, they will work harder to help customers and do an excellent job for the company in the long run. You should also give your workers much freedom and encourage them to use their brains and ideas to work together, develop solutions, and create new ideas.
Employees Offer The Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
Workers’ skills are the most valuable things they bring to the table. As an employer, you should invest in their skills throughout various training and development programs and equip them with knowledge of a company’s culture, systems, and work procedures.
No matter what level they are at, employees run the business. This means their strength, commitment, dedication, and emotional connection to the company can’t be judged as assets with a monetary value.
Employees Are The Reason Why A Business is Profitable
This cannot be stressed enough – but a company’s most valuable thing is its employees. Employees are essential to an organization’s growth because they help bring in money, keeping the business running. When workers are treated well and given the right direction and tools, they can help cut costs and increase sales and revenue simultaneously.
Seven Simple Ways You Can Find and Keep The Best Employees For Your Organization
Are you trying to find ways to get and keep good employees? If so, you are not alone. Many companies worldwide need help hiring the right people and keeping them on the job. But do not fret; there are a few simple things you can try out to make your business more appealing to possible employees and keep them happy once they have joined your company.
Create a Healthy and Enjoyable Company Culture
In recent years, many people have prioritized a healthy work culture over the amount of compensation. They want to work in a company where they feel valued and respected. In this case, a good leader is the first step to making a good work setting, so encourage a culture of working together and respecting each other so that workers can share ideas and feedback freely.
Appreciate Hard Work and Celebrate Small Wins
Probably one of the most accessible and effective ways to keep workers is to show appreciation for their hard work. Whether through a handwritten note, a small bonus, or public praise at a company meeting, these simple gestures can make them happy and motivated to work hard and reach their goals.
Offer Fair Compensation and Good Benefits
Find out the going rates for your business and ensure your salaries are competitive. Good benefits are just as significant to workers as a good salary. You could make your business more appealing to possible employees by giving them health insurance, plans to save for retirement, and other perks.
Invest In Your Employee’s Skill Training and Development
Most workers want to feel like they are getting better at their jobs. When looking for people to join your group, highlight any chances for growth and development. Also, once you hire someone, ensure they know how to move up in the company. Help them set goals and give them the tools or assistance needed to reach their full potential. For example, construction task management software can help them get an overview of their tasks. This strategy can help increase their accountability for the tasks and allows them to focus on completing them on time, within budget, and of the highest quality. It is essential that the jobs you post have room for growth and that you clarify to potential candidates how they can work hard and move up in your business.
Encourage Work-Life Balance
Promoting a healthy way of life is another way to make your business more appealing to people who want to work for you. This could mean giving discounts on gym memberships or a workplace wellness program, like a free subscription to a wellness app. Your employees will be happier and more effective if you encourage them to live healthily. You can use construction crew scheduling software to help you see your workers’ schedules and prevent the risk of overlapping schedules and overworking them.
Focus on Employee Engagement
You cannot just hire people; you must also ensure they are interested and invested in the work so they are less likely to quit. Some ways to keep your workers interested are giving them exciting and challenging jobs, encouraging them to work together, and giving them feedback. Even though projects, deadlines, and earnings should be your top priorities, ensuring your employees are happy and satisfied at work is essential.
Use Construction Technology As A Selling Point
The industry has changed because of technology, especially in the way businesses work to find, hire, and keep good employees. Everything is automated, allowing managers to avoid repetitive tasks and focus more on the essential parts of running the company.
Investing in technology can not only make the construction business more appealing, but it can also improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of construction work. Gathering and managing important site data with just a few clicks, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, is more accessible. This almost real-time knowledge makes it possible to make decisions much more quickly and proactively, which is suitable for all teams in the company. Whether using construction inventory management software, or a building information modeling application, you can streamline your processes without compromising quality and professionalism.
