Across the country, like it or not, communities and businesses are reopening following the restrictions from the coronavirus. Whether you are going to jump right back into these open waters or if you are going to take your time with the reintegration, it is a bit of a different world we all will be entering. Some of the changes may be subtle while others are going to take some getting used to.
There are definitely going to be changes in the construction industry.
The Southern California Partnership for Jobs (SCPJ) represents nearly 3,000 construction firms and approximately 90,000 union workers in California. It promotes the “need for infrastructure funding and to enhance the regions’ workforce development while creating career construction jobs.” A major part of that effort is its “RebuildSoCal Project.”
Recently, rebuildsocal.org posted an article titled, “The New Normal: 3 Ways the Coronavirus Crisis is Changing Construction." It’s a brief look at how the construction industry has adapted to the realities the pandemic has brought about. It introduces the three changes saying, “In the span of a few short months, the coronavirus crisis has demanded sweeping changes from the U.S. construction industry, and experts say many of them will remain in place even after the outbreak recedes. From reliance on new technologies to a renewed focus on worksite safety and the increased influence of organized labor, changes brought by the pandemic may have a lasting impact on U.S. construction.”
The changes outlined are an increase in the use of technology, the growth of union influence, and the recalibration of supply chains.
Technology has already been evolving at an exponential rate. RebuildSoCal says the use of drones and monitors will increase to emphasize and keep track of social distancing.
Next is the growth of trade unions. RebuildSoCal predicts unions will be a strong voice in keeping job sites safe and operational. And if workers lose their jobs, the unions can help them find new work.
Third, to deal with disruptions and delays in the supply chain, RebuildSoCal predicts that companies will shy away from traditional overseas suppliers and instead turn to increasing domestic sources or nearby countries such as Mexico.
The executive director of SCPJ, John Hakel, says, “If not yet bright, the future for the construction industry and our workers appears very positive with important enhancements to security, safety, and productivity driven by the current crisis experience.”
Please check out the Southern California Partnership for Jobs at rebuildsocal.org.
