One would think that furloughs and layoffs caused by construction project cancellations and delays due to the Coronavirus would create a ready-made pool of skilled workers. And that there would be firms and contractors chomping at the bit to access that talent. Actually, not so much.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk recently conducted a workforce survey found that 52-percent of firms are still struggling to find skilled labor.
According to a press release from the AGC announcing the survey results, “The pandemic has also made it difficult for many firms to fill open positions, especially for hourly craft jobs. A majority (52 percent) of respondents report having a hard time filling some or all hourly craft positions, especially openings for laborers, carpenters and equipment operators. Sixty percent of firms had at least one unfilled hourly craft position as of June 30. In addition, 28 percent of respondents report difficulty filling salaried positions—in particular, project managers and supervisors.”
About one-third of the companies that responded to the survey said they had to furlough or terminate employees because of the pandemic and related shutdowns. The majority of those firms have asked some of their laid-off workers to come back to work but almost half of those companies say a number of those workers refuse to return because they are concerned about COVID-19 or they prefer to collect unemployment benefits.
It is a frustrating situation. I find it interesting that the pandemic has done little to affect the need for skilled workers. The search for this elusive labor pool was on well before the pandemic hit. It continues during the peak of its impact. It will most likely continue beyond the point of a return to normalcy.
The AGC’s chief economist, Ken Simonson says, “Few firms have survived unscathed from the pandemic amid widespread project delays and cancellations. Ironically, even as the pandemic undermines demand for construction services, it is reinforcing conditions that have historically made it hard for many firms to find qualified craft workers to hire.”
Check out the details of the AGC/Autodesk survey by clicking here.
There is a lot of insight to be gleaned from the results.
Allison Scott, Autodesk’s director of construction thought leadership says, “The results of the AGC and Autodesk workforce study reveal that the construction industry is still grappling with the changes and consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. The long-term effects of the current crisis have yet to play out, and firms that double down on innovation efforts, whether an increased focus on lean construction, workforce training or technology that facilitates remote collaboration will be well poised for enduring resilience.”