Calvin Snowden Jr.’s Post

How to Fill the Skills Gap in Construction | For Construction Pros

Bigger construction jobs usually mean people work to a lower equivilant rate (per m2 or similar). In theory it makes sense: - Less headache placing labour - Single mob / demob - Less admin vs multiple small jobs And a few other benefits. But that’s just the issue - these “benefits” get wiped when you then do the job for less (like for like). If your rate is usually £100/m2 and a typical project is 100m2 / £10k, then moving on to a £100k project should mean 1,000m2 in simple terms. But then business owners get in their own way and start giving daft discounts, thinking its continuous work, no downtime etc. So you erode any savings made and efficiencies it brings by wiping big chunks off the value. To build a bigger job rarely costs less as well - especially these days. If anything I’d much rather have 5 x £20k jobs, than a single £100k job a lot of the time. If you do £100k of work and discount it to £85k (sounds a lot, but very common to see 15% to 30% chopped), then you’ll probably wipe a good 3/4 of the profit, too. If not more! If 5x £20k jobs were priced at 20% net and then you did a £100k job (assuming it costs the same) at £85k as above - then you’d make £5k net now and not £20k. £5k of an original £20k margin is 75% profit wiped. You now need to do £400k of work to make £20k profit, not the £100k originally if this was 5 smaller jobs. This is the first downfall in many construction companies. You’d think it would be easy to notice, but mix in multiple projects, staff and day to day issues. Not so easy anymore.

A career in the construction industry may be overlooked by some; those who have experienced what it's like know the many benefits there are to enjoy. Read our latest blog to learn more about the benefits of working in the industry. #ConstructionIndustry #ResidentialConstruction #VermontBusiness https://lnkd.in/gq339in7

Like many businesses, the construction industry is facing challenges which can be tricky to navigate. In this article, we highlight 7 of the challenges we feel are the most concerning and how you can reduce their impact! Take a look 👉 https://lnkd.in/eUXDqgMj #electrican #plumber #commercialplumber #pipefitter #plantroom #electricalwork #constructionsites #constructionworkwales #pierrecruit #constructionprojects #constructionworkers #construction #MandE

Why is a lack of diversity such an issue within the industry? The majority of workers within the construction industry are male and of a similar age. As we already know, lack of diversity has resulted in a workforce where a huge group are due to retire within a short time. A lack of focus on improving diversity until recently, has resulted in less younger workers moving up through the ranks! Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2k5-f3V #electrican #plumber #commercialplumber #pipefitter #plantroom #electricalwork #constructionsites #constructionworkwales #pierrecruit #constructionprojects #constructionworkers #construction

UK Construction Week-End Reading📰 According to new research commissioned by construction industry not-for-profit Deconstruction, 68% of UK adults would not consider a career in the construction sector, associating the industry with words including Dirty, Strenuous and Boring. Source: Specification Online Read more: https://zurl.co/q9Mr #UKconstruction #construction #constructionwork #constructionnews #skillshortage

When you think of the world’s largest industry, perhaps agriculture or energy come to mind—but it turns out they’re not the biggest. No, the largest industry in the world today is construction, generating about 13 percent of the entire world’s GDP. And while it operates on a truly massive scale, construction also has a notoriously difficult time achieving maximum profitability because of the constant struggle to keep the industry fully staffed. For years, the construction industry has seen a shrinking pool of labour that includes everyone from people in trades to company leadership. In turn, this takes a toll on those working on construction projects, with 75 percent of construction workers expressing concerns about fatigue, Forbes magazine reports. For some stark context, in the United States, the application rate of young people looking for work in fields like plumbing and electrical dropped by a whopping 49 percent in 2022 compared to 2020, according to data from the online recruiting platform Handshake. This contrasts with the growing demand for these technical jobs being spurred on by infrastructure needs, especially green construction projects. Find out more in this article by Karen Hawthorne #constructionnews #construction #labourshortage #trades

Over the past few months, data has shown that construction employment has not kept up with construction spending on a national level. As the graph illustrates below, this does not align with the pattern we have seen over the past few decades. However, there is some good news: In California last month, construction employment rose 1.5%. While this may seem like a small win, it is a win nonetheless. After the past few years, it's encouraging to see the construction industry in CA start to rebound. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gm2Pn-4U #ConstructionIndustry #California #Employment

We may have a long way to go, however, despite the recent challenges faced in Construction, there are some positive developments that offer hope and encouragement for tradies and construction workers. For one, the government's ongoing commitment to infrastructure projects is a major source of optimism. The increased investment in roads, railways, and other critical infrastructure creates a pipeline of job opportunities and fosters stability in the sector. Obviously, the steady flow of work creates a unique problem - shortage of skilled workers. It may seem like a challenge, but it also presents a unique opportunity. The high demand for qualified tradies and construction workers can lead to better job prospects and potentially higher wages. As businesses compete for talent, skilled professionals are in a strong position to negotiate favorable employment terms and secure rewarding careers. Another positive is the sector's increasing recognition of the benefits of adopting new technologies and innovative practices. Embracing these advancements means construction companies can improve efficiency, enhance safety measures, and create a more positive work environment for their employees. This also conicides with the government demand for eco-friendly practices. Green building initiatives and sustainable construction methods are gaining traction, thereby opening up new avenues for growth and specialization. Tradies and construction workers who acquire skills in sustainable construction techniques will be well-positioned to seize these emerging opportunities. While Construction has a long way to go in correcting its culture problems, I am convinced that the future holds exciting opportunities for traders.💪🏗️ #AustralianConstruction #peopleintrades #OpportunitiesAhead #SkilledTradies #InnovationInConstruction #EPIc

We may have a long way to go, however, despite the recent challenges faced in Construction, there are some positive developments that offer hope and encouragement for tradies and construction workers. For one, the government's ongoing commitment to infrastructure projects is a major source of optimism. The increased investment in roads, railways, and other critical infrastructure creates a pipeline of job opportunities and fosters stability in the sector. Obviously, the steady flow of work creates a unique problem - shortage of skilled workers. It may seem like a challenge, but it also presents a unique opportunity. The high demand for qualified tradies and construction workers can lead to better job prospects and potentially higher wages. As businesses compete for talent, skilled professionals are in a strong position to negotiate favorable employment terms and secure rewarding careers. Another positive is the sector's increasing recognition of the benefits of adopting new technologies and innovative practices. Embracing these advancements means construction companies can improve efficiency, enhance safety measures, and create a more positive work environment for their employees. This also conicides with the government demand for eco-friendly practices. Green building initiatives and sustainable construction methods are gaining traction, thereby opening up new avenues for growth and specialization. Tradies and construction workers who acquire skills in sustainable construction techniques will be well-positioned to seize these emerging opportunities. While Construction has a long way to go in correcting its culture problems, I am convinced that the future holds exciting opportunities for traders.💪🏗️ #AustralianConstruction #peopleintrades #OpportunitiesAhead #SkilledTradies #InnovationInConstruction #EPIc