By Kevin Leamy, Operations Support Manager

At last! After a long and stressful period of volatility and uncertainty, the construction industry is finally coming out of a rough recession. For the construction companies that made it through the tough times and want to move forward again, there is no time to waste. New challenges and opportunities are emerging every day, forcing business owners who want to see their organizations prosper to keep up with construction trends. Below we take a look at some of these trends and we offer tips on how to make sure that your firm takes the right steps to stay on the path of success.

Labor Shortage
Due to the recession, many construction workers left the construction industry and never came back thus creating a huge gap of construction skills that is needed for new projects. Projections indicate that the workforce shortage will persist in the foreseeable future. This forces construction companies to turn to unskilled labor and even foreign labor, putting construction safety at risk. A great way to overcome this burden is to work with those who keep up with construction trends and who know how to find you the skilled labor you need. Partner with an experienced construction staffing firm to help you address the challenges that come into view.

Jobsite Safety
With hundreds of thousands of construction workers on jobsites every day, construction safety has been the Achilles Heel of the construction industry. Accidents take place daily, causing loss of human life and creating unnecessary overhead for construction companies. Predicting when or how something will go wrong on the jobsite is not always possible, but many potential issues can be avoided by adhering to safety guidelines and by properly training your workforce. Your company needs to keep up with construction trends that enable you to build a protective shield around your employees and safeguard their health.

Innovative Technology
3D printers, laser scanners, drones, telematics and smart helmets are just a few of the technological innovations that have been introduced to the industry and that promise revolutionary change. Adoption of such pioneering technology allows for faster, smarter and safer projects, reducing risks for construction safety and leading to the improvement of construction skills in the workforce. As a company owner, it is important that you keep up with construction trends and embrace all those that maximize the efficiency of your operations and help your firm stay ahead of the competition.

Environmental Approach
New regulations and requirements are being implemented to protect the environment and make sure that construction companies operate with respect to public health. Your firm needs to stay on top of the latest environmental ordinances that are put into action and have an effect on the way you run your projects. In addition, green building is gaining more and more ground both in commercial and residential construction as a means of reducing costs and delivering more eco-friendly buildings. Your company must be familiar with these upward trends and attempt to make them part of the way you do business.

New Construction Methods
Apart from the ongoing need to locate the right construction skills, firms need to keep a close eye on new construction methods that are being slowly but steadily adopted by the industry. A great example is the modular or prefabricated construction that promises less waste and requires less building time. Many companies see modular construction as an answer to the labor shortage and a way to deal with tight time schedules. In other words, there is a shift from traditional building processes to more cutting-edge approaches. Is your organization up to speed with such methods, and how quickly can it adapt to these new techniques?

Key Takeaways to Keeping Up With the Construction Trends:
1.  Address labor shortages by working with a construction staffing firm
2.  Follow construction trends that enhance the construction safety of your workforce
3.  Embrace technology that maximizes the efficiency of your operations
4.  Stay on top of the latest environmental regulations
5.  Keep an eye on new construction methods and ensure that your firm is up to speed with them

About TradeSource
Founded in 1993, TradeSource is a construction labor solutions firm focused on delivering labor solutions to contractors throughout the United States. By supplying skilled tradespeople – where and when they’re needed – we help contractors grow their companies, without the associated costs and hassles of full-time hires. Likewise, we match qualified employees with rewarding and well-paying job opportunities in the construction industry. www.tradesource.com