Barriers That Are Hurting Your Hiring and Recruitment Efforts
Samantha Stephenson's article in "Construction Executive" highlights that to hire based on merit and address workforce shortages, construction companies must remove barriers in their hiring processes to ensure accessibility and inclusivity, noting significant recent growth in women's employment within the industry.
Arcoro's Samantha Stephenson contributed an article to "Construction Executive."
To hire based on merit, companies must ensure that their hiring procedures are accessible to everyone.
Over the past decade, the construction industry has expanded its workforce by tapping into new segments of workers to find much needed talent. For example, women have seen steady employment gains in recent years. The number of women working in construction grew from 802,000 to 1.2 million between 2012 and 2020. Additionally, a record number of women worked in trades jobs in 2022…
Read the entire article here.
Related
Arcoro’s Insights: Looking Back on 2024 - Arcoro
In 2024, Arcoro leveraged its deep expertise in construction HR to provide industry-specific insights and solutions—highlighted in various publications by experts like Carrie Gardenhire and Samantha Stephenson—that addressed workforce challenges such as labor shortages, talent pipeline development through student internships, and increasing female recruitment, ultimately helping construction companies become more strategic, compliant, and better equipped to handle hiring and operational demands amid record job openings.
Future-Proofing HR in Construction: Top Priorities for 2025 and Beyond
A 2025 Arcoro report reveals that nearly 60% of small to mid-sized US construction companies prioritize improving HR technology to automate processes, integrate HR and ERP systems, enhance employee experience, and boost analytics, with automation seen as key to transforming HR from a cost center into a profit center by reducing administrative burdens, recruiting fees, payroll errors, and compliance risks.
Recruiting for the Construction Industry in the New Year: Strategies and Tools for Success - Arcoro
The construction industry faces a critical labor shortage exacerbated by an aging workforce, increased project demand, and negative perceptions deterring younger workers, necessitating strategic recruitment approaches and advanced HR tools to attract skilled labor and sustain industry growth.
Demographic Shifts Heighten the Competition for Workers
The construction industry's worker shortage, reported by 94% of firms in 2024, is being intensified by global demographic shifts including declining birth rates since 2007, an aging population, and a shrinking pool of 18-year-olds entering the workforce, with projections indicating over 85 million unfilled jobs by 2030 and a 15% decrease in 18-year-olds by 2039, compounded by a decline in men over 20 participating in the labor force due to retirement and social challenges.
Building a Skills Development Program That Actually Retains Construction Workers
The article emphasizes that addressing the construction industry's workforce crisis requires not just hiring but retaining workers through structured skills development programs that engage employees, improve retention, reduce hiring costs, and enhance work quality by offering formal training, coaching, mentoring, and learning opportunities that make employees feel valued and invested in the company's future.
2025’s Top Construction Workforce Challenges
In 2025, the construction industry faces its top challenge of a severe workforce shortage—with 288,000 job openings and 94% of firms struggling to fill roles—exacerbated by supply chain delays and rising material costs, requiring companies to enhance recruitment, especially among young people, and improve retention through competitive pay and culture amid shifting economic conditions.