The busy summer months are approaching, which means quality hiring is on the minds of many employers, especially those in the construction industry. The success of a construction project – residential or commercial – relies on the strength and skills of its laborers, tradesmen and foremen. However, with baby boomers gearing up for retirement and opportunities for growth popping up all over the country, more and more openings need to be filled.
This is Where Millennials Come In
To keeping your construction project on a good timeline, and your profits increasing, you need good, reliable workers of any legal working age. That’s why it’s no surprise to the experienced recruiters at CCS Construction Staffing that construction firms are competing hard for new hires. In order to keep a steady influx of reliable laborers, these companies should turn toward the newest generation: Millennials. Despite some negative stereotypes, millennials are incredibly hard working, loyal and productive.
These new construction workers are in the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age. This makes them adept with high-tech equipment and they are natural problem-solvers. When an important tool doesn’t work, millennials think creatively to find a solution. When a new tool comes on the scene, it doesn’t take them long to figure out its ins and outs. And, most importantly, they love a good challenge.
Millennials will boost the construction industry not just for their technological savvy, but also for many other traits, including their pride in a job well done. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and what’s bigger than a contemporary high-rise apartment complex or a state-of-the-art sports facility? Like all employees, there are pros and cons. When building a staffing strategy, both permanent and temporary, expect millennials to be:
- Highly self-sufficient at completing daily routine tasks, but may have limited understanding of top down issues. They often need specific guidance to tackle multifaceted projects that span long periods of time.
- Take negative feedback personally, but require frequent and detailed updates on their job performance. Their egos can be very fragile; and they often feel underpraised.
- In need of work that makes an impact. They crave meaningful work, both in the overall success of the company, as well as in their individual jobs.
- Guilty of short attention spans, especially distracted by the Internet and their phones. They often jump from job to job, as opposed to their parents who stuck with one employer for a substantial length of time.
- Filled with a desire to have a strong work life balance. They work to live, not live to work, yet they are highly driven to be the best and get that recognition. While this means Millennials want flexible hours, it also means your company gets an infusion of creative and dynamic perspectives.
The millennial generation is changing the face of the construction workforce. They bring a different set of skills to the traditional tools and roles on a job site, which can often mean a shift in management styles. However, the Millennial worker should not be written off; on the right construction project, they can be incredibly passionate, loyal and productive.
Would you like to broaden your candidate search? At CCS Construction Staffing, we can connect you with eager, talented temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire construction employees at all levels.