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Staff shortages are beginning to take their toll on the construction industry. No less than 57 percent of the sector is grappling with a shortage of people. Half of the sector (50%) even cites the lack of personnel for carrying out their projects as their biggest concern. In addition to productivity, the well-being of current staff is also coming under increasing pressure, with overtime being the rule rather than the exception. One in three construction professionals (34%) are routinely working longer hours. This was revealed in the annual Boels Rental Construction Index*. How can we keep projects running while providing the best possible support to our current staff?
Strain on current staff
While it is important to invest in productivity on the construction site, it is even more important to look after your current staff. In practice, they are under more pressure. For example, 20 percent of employees feel they have to work faster because of rising costs. This feeling is most prevalent among those under 35 (27%). Routine overtime comes at the expense of work-life balance and increases the risk of excessive workloads, exhaustion and carelessness. At the same time, almost half (49%) are not experiencing this same pressure, indicating a growing divide within teams.
needs to work faster due to rising costs
of construction companies depends on inexperienced personnel
Quality under pressure
The shortage of personnel is not only a problem in terms of quantity, but it also has a direct impact on the way work is done. For example, 44 percent of construction companies in the Netherlands are now dependent on inexperienced personnel. This can mean that professionals have to spend more time and energy training and mentoring colleagues in addition to doing their regular work. On top of that, 43 percent of organisations are no longer able to take on certain projects, and almost a quarter (23%) are even losing out on important projects due to staff shortages.
Sustainable employability is essential for project continuity
“We should not underestimate the impact of the higher workload caused by staff shortages. Not only does excessive workload pose a risk to employee well-being, it also increases the likelihood of dangerous situations arising as a result of exhaustion. Of course, construction companies have projects to complete and deadlines to meet, but we also mustn’t forget how important sustainable employability is for the continuity of construction projects,” says Sven Janssen, Health & Safety Manager at Boels Rental.
“So keep an eye on excessive workload and look for ways of reducing dependence on certain employees. By training and supervising inexperienced workers more quickly and effectively, and by systematically monitoring safety and workloads, we can ease the pressure on teams. At the same time, investing in automation and retraining is essential to future-proof the sector and attract new talent.”
*The survey was conducted by research agency Markteffect among 402 Dutch people working in the construction industry.
