Construction Law

The Role of Technology in Recruiting the Next Generation of Construction Professionals Part 1 featured image

The Role of Technology in Recruiting the Next Generation of Construction Professionals Part 1

Among the most lucrative industries in the United States, the construction sector has experienced an ongoing issue with finding qualified applicants to work on projects. The labor shortage is a serious issue as both blue-collar and skilled labor positions have been largely abandoned. Whether it’s because of baby boomers retiring, talented workers that never returned to the industry after The Recession, a preference for high school students to enroll in a four-year college instead of a trade school, or simply a lack of desire to work in construction, the result is that the construction industry needs to find a solution to the skills gap problem.

In this three-part article, a Jacksonville construction attorney will discuss how construction companies can embrace groundbreaking technologies and utilize these advancements to motivate young individuals into joining the construction workforce. To better understand the situation, in this section, we will focus on why construction professionals often take an antiquated approach to their projects.

Reasons for a Lack of Technology in the Construction Industry

The construction industry is generally behind the times when it comes to integrating new technology into its practices. Here are some of the reasons why most contractors have stayed true to the old-fashioned approach to taking on projects:     

  • Financial Constraints: It can be a significant investment of capital to change your building process and invest in the newest technological equipment.
  • Time: As they say, “time is money.” Tailoring your strategy around a new process can be time-consuming at first and adjusting to new technology also impacts deadlines.
  • Refusal: Many contractors take on an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, so they believe they don’t need to enhance the way they take on projects.
  • Age: With the majority of construction workers in the age bracket of the late forties to early sixties, it can be challenging to adopt a new way of performing work.   

Lack of Technology Impacts Recruitment Tactics

Regardless of the reason for not upgrading their process, many critics blame the lack of utilizing advanced technology as a major reason a skills gap currently exists. In other words, potential applicants look to other industries that offer more appealing technology integration. In sections two and three of this article series, we will explore ways that the construction sector can recruit talented workers by utilizing technology as a vehicle to attract the next generation of talented workers.  

If you would like to speak with one of our Jacksonville construction attorneys, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.