Construction’s workforce remains a key concern for contractors, from attracting new workers to keeping employees safe on the job.
Four major companies — BlackRock, Carhartt, Ford and Google — recently launched the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades to expand skilled trades training, create more apprenticeship opportunities and connect people with careers in construction, infrastructure and manufacturing. The group is supporting workforce training initiatives in 30 states as the industry faces a potential shortage of more than 2 million workers by 2030.
At the same time, construction employment continues to grow. Associated Builders and Contractors reports nearly 60,000 jobs have been added compared with this time last year, but low construction unemployment means contractors are still facing a tight labor pool and higher labor and project costs.
Safety is another workforce concern. A Travelers report found that 44% of construction injuries involve first-year employees, highlighting the importance of effective onboarding and safety training. Construction workers also had the longest average recovery time of any industry studied, missing an average of 114 workdays after an injury.
Watch this week’s Watch FCP for more on construction workforce trends, labor challenges and safety.
