Workforce Management in Construction: 4 Strategies You Shouldn’t Overlook

The US construction industry is expected to continue its growth trajectory, yet there is an estimated shortage of 501,000 workers to meet even the current demand.

As the gap between demand and labor is increasing, construction businesses are having to make changes to the way they operate.

Strong workforce management not only has the potential to improve productivity within a construction company, but can also help retain skilled employees, increasing the capabilities of a team as they tackle a project.

In this article, we will discuss some of the different strategies that can be implemented by construction companies to better manage their team and maximize efficiency.

How Good Workforce Management Can Make All the Difference

The way a workforce is managed can be the difference between an efficient project and a string of delays, hiccups, and frustrated employees.

One of the key benefits of strong workforce management within a construction company is improved productivity. If every employee knows exactly what they need to be doing and when it needs to be done by, the team will be working in unison towards the same goals and deadlines.

The more organized the project is, the better the communication is likely to be. If everyone is able to see who is working on what, employees can speak to the most relevant people and effectively collaborate on the task at hand.

By cutting out some of the chaos and disorganization that is often associated with construction sites, the workforce is bound to create a more positive work environment for employees. Strong teamwork and good workforce management are bound to improve morale and create a less stressful experience for everyone involved.

As well as benefiting the team, good workforce management will inevitably lead to cost savings for the business. An organized project means timings, budgets, and labor needs can all be established before work gets underway, minimizing the likelihood of expensive delays or unexpected issues cropping up partway through.

4 Construction Workforce Management Strategies

Here are four strategies that a construction business can implement to improve the management of its workforce:

1. Introduce project management software

With construction projects nowadays requiring more planning than ever before, being able to effectively manage the process will transform how a construction business operates.

Instead of outdated paper forms or messy spreadsheets, construction management software should be implemented to centrally manage all aspects of a project. This will make handling everything from financials to the real-time tracking of the project progress easier than ever.

Once deadlines have been implemented and employees have been assigned to tasks, the system will schedule workload and deadlines to ensure that the project stays on schedule. This helps to quickly identify any bottlenecks which could hold up the entire project.

2. Use designated communication platforms

When loud and fast-paced construction sites are involved, poor communication can be the cause of various issues. Whether that be miscommunications about how a task is to be completed or messages failing to be passed on, these mishaps can result in problematic holdups.

Long gone are the days of using WhatsApp or emails to communicate as a team – a central communication platform should be in place to better manage internal interactions.

Tools such as Slack and Teams allow a team to communicate with each other, both individually and as groups. There is the option for messaging, video calling, and document sharing from any location to keep everything in one central place and avoid wires getting crossed.

3. Undergo health and safety training

Construction sites bring an element of risk, so health and safety measures are a necessity. From a workforce management perspective, sufficient processes need to be in place to not only protect the well-being of all people on site, but to remain compliant with legalities.

To ensure that all employees are up to date with their health and safety training, there should be an assigned employee (or employees) who is responsible for scheduling in training sessions and ensuring that any personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided.

By having someone oversee the training programs, whether that be virtually or in person, the likelihood of sessions getting forgotten or avoided is kept to a minimum.

4. Regularly assess labor needs

With the needs of every construction site differing from one project to the next, keeping on top of staffing needs can feel like an impossible task.

Ensuring that a construction team is fully staffed requires assessing what skills are needed at each stage of the project, whether that be electricians, plumbers, or inspectors, and ensuring that there is enough manpower to meet deadlines.

There are various tools available that can help produce schedules based on the needs of the project. They will use data from past projects to more accurately estimate the level of labor that is required.

Gain a Competitive Advantage Through Workforce Management

With the construction industry struggling with a shortage of skilled workers but an increase in demand, businesses need to improve their workforce management and employee retention rates.

By keeping up with the times and utilizing strategies that can improve operations and maximize productivity, a construction company will be able to create a more enjoyable work environment for its employees. 

The use of good project management software, open communication platforms, regular health and safety training, and effective schedule planning will ensure that a project can run as smoothly as possible and position the company as a leader in their field.