The construction and equipment manufacturing industries have been dealing with a workforce shortage for a while now. It is time for people in the industry to address this issue and look for ways to combat the ongoing workforce shortage.
Improve the Workplace Culture
Businesses in these industries should focus on improving workplace culture to improve employee retention rates. Two very important aspects that they need to consider are exit interviews and stay interviews. Simply through conducting separate interviews with departing employees, both managers and human resources representatives can gain valuable insights into potential issues with onboarding and development prospects. Employee surveys can provide a further understanding of the company’s culture and guide necessary adjustments. However, it is important to handle employee criticism appropriately to avoid negative impacts on the overall culture. Make sure to focus on retaining skilled technicians through a positive workplace culture.
Establishing a Talent Pipeline
Creating a pipeline of talent is essential for long-term success. Merely contacting technical colleges a few times a year is insufficient. Instead, businesses should actively engage with educational institutions, participate in review groups, and interact with students in classrooms to stand out and attract the brightest individuals. Collaboration with secondary schools that feed into technical college programs can be achieved by providing free high school technician curricula, such as Curriculum for Ag Science Education. By showcasing the demand for skilled individuals and rewarding career opportunities in the industry, businesses can promote the technician profession.
Diversifying the Workforce and Job Postings
To have a significant impact on talent acquisition, businesses should actively seek out women and people of color. By changing the locations and language used in job postings, companies can appeal to a more diverse pool of candidates. Utilizing gender decoder websites can help identify any unintentionally macho language in job postings. Identifying individuals with similar talents, interests, and hobbies as the desired workforce and promoting job positions in those specific areas and activities can also be effective. Collaborating with education institutions through technician program partnerships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, or work-and-learn programs is crucial for the ongoing training and retention of technicians.
Collaborative Efforts and Resources
Recognizing that no single entity can solve the technician shortage issue alone, businesses should actively collaborate with associations and organizations working towards the same goal. The AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers) and AED Foundation provide valuable resources and initiatives aimed at addressing the workforce shortage in the construction and equipment manufacturing industries. The AEM’s Workforce Development Committee and technician task force share best practices, survey questions, and stay interview techniques to make a collective difference. Cooperation among various associations helps coordinate efforts and avoid duplication, ultimately serving the industry’s requirements more effectively.
In order to address the severe workforce shortage in the construction and equipment manufacturing industries, businesses should prioritize strategies for both retaining skilled technicians and establishing a robust talent pipeline. You should focus on improving workplace culture, conducting exit and stay interviews, and making necessary adjustments based on employee feedback, by doing this companies can improve their employee retention rates. Creating partnerships with educational institutions, introducing high school technician curricula, and actively engaging with students can attract a new generation of workers. Diversifying the workforce through proactive recruitment efforts and inclusive job postings is also really important for long-term success. Finally, collaborative efforts among associations and organizations make the sharing of best practices and resources possible, fostering collective progress toward overcoming the workforce shortage challenges.