The year 2020 has changed all of our lives completely in a short span of time. The COVID-19 crisis has reshaped the economy globally. Amidst the pandemic, no one knows what lies ahead, and thus are seeking ways to sustain well in these uncertain times.
The lockdown period was difficult for everyone. People lost employment and the unemployment rate touched a historic low. One of the sections that suffered badly was the construction industry. The lockdown put a halt on every project making workers lose their jobs. According to the International Labour Organisation, more than 300 million people lost their jobs worldwide due to the pandemic. More than 80% of the global workforce are still impacted by the precautionary measures in one way or another.
Why Does the Recruitment Process Need to Be Remodelled in the Construction Industry?
Now that everything is slowly coming back to the track with new norms and standards, the construction industry needs to be prepared. The process of recruiting workers needs to be changed and adapted to the ongoing situations. Why? Well, let’s get to know –
Unemployment is At Its Brink
There were many industries that were forced to close completely in the pandemic lockdown. One of them was the construction industry. A construction site is set to work only when a lot of resources come together. Apart from all the tools, material and the machinery, the most important resource is the human resource i.e., labours and workers. As soon as the lockdown was announced, construction projects were shut down. Construction workers and labours were left with no work. Until the lockdown wasn’t lifted, the unemployment rate rocketed way too high. So now workers are in dire need of employment. For that reason, whatever position you put out as a recruiter in the construction industry, it’s bound to get double the applicants. The abundance of options might overwhelm you leading to hiring the people who aren’t fit for your industry.
Lack of Skilled Labour
This isn’t necessarily a Covid-induced problem but the pandemic has surely contributed to it in some way. One of the major challenges the construction industry faces is the lack of skilled labour. Over 80% of the construction firms have reported having a hard time to fill in the bulk of the construction force. The major reason for this goes to the recruitment strategies in the construction industry. The recruitment patterns have never been very innovative here. They are outdated and have been following the same pattern for many years now. The process and strategies need to be updated to have a better way to hire labour. It’s time construction firms adapt and go beyond their typical recruitment tools.
Penetration of New Workers
The pandemic hasn’t only affected the construction industry but every industry throughout the world. Barring a few like medical, e-learning, and virtual entertainment, every sector witnesses the employment rate touching the dust of the ground. Post lockdown, everyone who lost their jobs is moving towards those service sectors of the economy that are absolutely essential. The construction industry, undoubtedly, is one of them. On a brighter note, construction firms are getting the opportunity to select and hire from a really big pool. On the other hand, the majority of applicants are the idle workers that are probably shifting to a new industry. This, again, drafts the problem of having too many applicants that are not unskilled but have no experience of working in the construction industry.
Recruiters are in Desperation
It’s not just the workers who are desperate to get employment. The pandemic halted all the construction projects abruptly. It, obviously, messed up the lives of recruiters as well. With everything opening up, they are in dire need of workers and labours to start the halted construction projects as soon as possible. This will minimise their losses and cover the pending costs. As stated, the workers are presenting a huge opportunity for the companies looking to hire. However, everything depends on how the firm handles the situation. They’ll end up with skilled workers if they wait and process every application with patience. But if they make the decision in haste and desperation, they might get stuck with the unskilled lot.
How to Go About the Recruitment process in the Construction Industry?
One needs to follow a mix of processes that were undertaken before the pandemic and the ones that need to be adopted because of the pandemic. Let’s get to know-how –
Adapt to the Post-Covid Changes
Recognise the changes happening in the overall job market. The pandemic is forcing people to abide by certain factors. On one hand, there is a need for employment and on the other, the industries are adapting to changes affected by safety measures, fear, social distancing, and health risks. As a construction firm, be aware of the developments in the labour market and adapt accordingly because they’ll affect your recruitment efforts.
Understand Your Hiring Needs
The economic situation worldwide isn’t favourable. This makes it important to understand and access your hiring needs. You need to plan the optimisation of human resources according to present needs. Also, this isn’t going to last forever. So, allow adjustment in your hiring plan according to the changes in your environment.
Define a Quality Candidate For You
With a significant rise in job applications, don’t make a decision in haste. Prioritise hiring candidates that are skilled and have accreditation. Ill-suited selections are going to cost you significantly. You don’t want to have an unfit candidate in times when you yourself are optimising costs in your construction firm.
Recruit a Hiring Agency
The ‘hit and trial’ strategy in your recruitment process at a time when a pandemic is crashing the economy is bound to cost your firm a lot. There couldn’t be a more ideal situation to take help from a construction recruitment and labour supply agency. All you need to do is fill them in with your requirements and they’ll supply you with the qualified and skilled construction workers.
It is a challenging time. In the past, construction firms were fighting for candidates. The pandemic has turned the situations upside down. To survive the uncertainties, the best move is to hand over the tasks to the experts.
Ascent Onsite Services Ltd is a specialist construction recruitment agency that may provide you with the personnel you need. From groundworkers and plant operators to skilled labours and professional freelancers, we recruit accountable and responsible workers for your firm. Visit our website and contact us now to avail of our services.
