U.S. Construction Job Trends Revealed
The people who have their ears to the ground when it comes to construction employment are those who spend their days matching candidates to employers. Recently John Kreiss, president and CEO of MorganSullivan, Inc. offered some exclusive perspectives on the U.S. construction job market to Construction Informer readers .
What is the overall trend in construction job openings?
The overall trend in job openings is flat to slightly increasing. The residential fallout in the U.S. has had an effect on overall construction because it’s harder to get financing in this market. Still, some areas are pretty busy.
What construction jobs appear to be in greatest demand?
Healthcare, life sciences, and hospitality construction managers, estimators, and project executives are all hard to find.
What construction jobs seem to be in low demand?
Residential construction has fallen off the planet. We get a lot of impressive resumes, but they’re hard to place. Wood frame construction is not the same as steel and commercial building construction companies are often reluctant to hire people requiring learning curves.
Are you finding enough qualified candidates to fill jobs?
No we aren’t. Good people in this industry are very hard to find. Management talent is the hardest to find and we’re always looking for project executives, construction project managers, and estimators.
What is one thing people can do to make themselves more attractive to construction employers?
Communication skills are essential. We can find technical people, but management talent with exceptional communication skills is a different story. I would strongly recommend taking courses in interpersonal relations, communications, and emotional intelligence.
What is one thing employers can do to make themselves more attractive to potential employees?
Treat your existing employees like they are your customers. Recruiting is marketing and how you treat your employees goes a long way. Word will get out on the street regarding how you communicate and treat your staff. It’s a lot easier to attract people when you have a good reputation.
What is the number one complaint you hear from job seekers about the construction job market?
Employers who don’t get back to job seekers after the interview risk hurting their reputation. It does not create a good impression.
What is the number one complaint you hear from employers about filling their job requirements?
Finding and hiring qualified people fast enough is a major challenge and frustration. There are a lot of opportunities in construction, but not enough people to do the work.
MorganSullivan is a strategic ally to its clients by way of its dedication solely to the real estate and construction industries. Its expertise is in identifying and recruiting top-notch technical and business development personnel to fill critical positions for its clients. If you’d like to hear more on these topics, please contact John Kreiss at 508-571-9893.
