Built to Last: Constructing with Stronger Teams

March 10, 2025
by Lofton Staffing

In 2024, the construction industry in the United States reached a pivotal moment, characterized by robust growth and record-breaking performance. The construction sector faces several challenges that threaten its continued success. Despite the industry’s admirable growth, there remains a significant talent shortage, with an average of 382,000 job openings each month between August 2023 and July 2024. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors, the industry will require 439,000 additional workers in 2025. This persistent labor gap is exacerbated by an aging workforce, with projections indicating that the average age of craft workers will be 46 years by 2030.

Attracting labor for both skilled and unskilled positions has proven difficult, as securing onsite talent remains a formidable task. As the industry continues to evolve, construction firms are exploring innovative solutions to bridge the growing labor gap. One such approach is partnering with staffing firms to fill crucial positions, ensuring projects are completed efficiently and effectively.

Solution

To address the labor shortage, many construction firms have turned to staffing agencies to fill critical positions. Staffing firms offer a range of benefits, including access to a vast network of potential employees, streamlined recruitment processes, and the ability to quickly fill positions with qualified candidates. By partnering with staffing agencies, construction companies can focus on their core operations while ensuring they have the necessary human resources to complete projects on time and within budget.

Benefits of Using Staffing Firms

1. Access to a Larger Talent Pool: Staffing firms maintain extensive databases of qualified candidates, enabling construction firms to fill positions more efficiently.
2. Expertise in Recruitment: Staffing agencies specialize in identifying and vetting candidates, ensuring that only the most suitable individuals are selected for roles.
3. Reduced Time-to-Hire: By outsourcing recruitment, construction firms can significantly reduce the time it takes to fill open positions, minimizing project delays.
4. Flexibility in Staffing: Staffing firms provide temporary, permanent, and contract-based recruitment solutions, allowing construction companies to adapt their workforce to fluctuating project demands.

Choosing a Staffing Partner

Step 1: Identifying Staffing Needs

The first step in the implementation process is to clearly define the staffing needs of the construction firm. This involves assessing current and future projects, identifying skill gaps, and determining the number of positions that need to be filled.

Step 2: Selecting the Right Staffing Partner

Choosing the right staffing partner is essential. Construction firms should evaluate potential staffing agencies based on their industry expertise, track record, quality of candidates, and features they can provide. Establishing a collaborative relationship with the staffing agency is crucial to ensuring alignment on recruitment objectives and expectations.

Things to look for when choosing a staffing company.

• Does the staffing company offer additional benefits to their employees like major medical, critical illness, workers’ compensation, vacation or holiday pay?
• Does the staffing company have additional features for clients like customized billing or specialized departments like a safety division?
• What is the longevity of internal staff? Is there high turnover or seasoned professionals dedicated to the company and client’s success?
• What type of jobs do they typically fill? What is their record of placements in the construction industry?

Step 3: Customizing Recruitment Strategies

Once a staffing partner is selected, the next step is to customize recruitment strategies to align with the specific requirements of the construction firm. This involves collaborating with the staffing agency to develop tailored job descriptions, candidate profiles, and recruitment timelines.

Step 4: Managing Onboarding Processes

Effective onboarding is crucial to integrating new hires into the construction firm. Staffing agencies can assist with the onboarding process by providing orientation programs, training, and support to ensure new employees are well-prepared for their roles.

Benefits

The strategic use of staffing firms has yielded concrete results for construction companies.

• Time-to-Hire Reduction: Construction firms experienced a 30% reduction in average time-to-hire, leading to faster project initiation and completion.
• Improved Retention Rates: Companies reported a 20% increase in employee retention, attributed to better candidate-job fit facilitated by staffing agencies.
• Enhanced Project Timelines: With positions filled more quickly, projects were completed 15% faster on average, improving overall project efficiency.
• Improved Safety: Companies that partner with staffing firms with a focus on safety can reduce injury and illness rates, lower worker’s compensation costs, and have less absenteeism on the job site.

Looking Ahead in 2025

As construction firms navigate the evolving landscape, partnering with a trusted staffing agency is a viable solution to address the persistent labor shortage. By leveraging the expertise and resources of staffing firms, construction companies can build stronger teams, ensuring they remain competitive and capable of meeting rising market demands.

Make Lofton Staffing Your Partner for Success

Lofton Staffing is the Gulf South leader in temporary staffing. As the largest privately-owned staffing company founded in the Gulf South over 40 years ago, Lofton understands the construction industry and has unmatched expertise in meeting long-term and project-based labor demands. Lofton is the only staffing firm in the Gulf South with an in-house safety division dedicated to ensuring our employees and clients are safe on the job site. Make Lofton your staffing partner, and let us help you meet the ever-changing staffing needs of your business. Call for a free consultation today!