Managing Your Business Like A Professional

Three Ways To Overcome A Staffing Shortage For Your Construction Business

by Sherri Robinson

In some areas, construction businesses may face worker shortages from time to time. In order to keep your projects running smoothly, it's important to get the right people hired for each job, and there are several ways you can overcome a staffing shortage and fill your vacant construction jobs. Here are some approaches you might want to take to keep your business fully staffed.

Use A Temp Service

Temp services aren't just for hiring secretaries and personal assistants. Highly specialized temp agencies working in the construction industry can make it easy to find skilled workers, from electricians to general laborers. The staff will help you find the ideal candidates so you don't have to worry about dealing with job postings or screening applicants. Construction temp services may also offer a few added benefits, including:

  • Processing payroll and paying workers directly
  • Providing benefits, including medical and dental plans
  • Managing timecards and scheduling staff

With a temp agency, you get all the benefits of hiring an employee without assuming the administrative work required to onboard, pay, and schedule hours. 

Partner With Trade Schools

Local trade schools can provide a vast pool of candidates for your construction jobs. Consider contacting the administration at a school near you and ask about any exceptional students who might be looking for job placement opportunities. You can hire directly from the school and give a talented individual their first job in the industry while filling any immediate staffing needs for your company. If there is no trade school nearby, look at high schools offering vocation training programs. Students who are not on a college path might be interested in starting work in construction directly out of high school. 

Work With Apprenticeship Programs

Apprenticeship programs, such as those run by local and state governments, pair people interested in working in construction with different companies in the industry. Apprentices get hands-on job experience while providing you with valuable work to ensure project deadlines are met. If you have a core group of veteran employees who can train and mentor apprentices, working with a government-run or nonprofit program can reap great rewards. In some cases, companies participating in these programs might receive a tax credit or other financial benefits for their participation. These benefits do vary from state to state, so be sure to research the programs in your area thoroughly to get a better understanding of how they work and which options might benefit your company. 

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