The Construction Industry’s Landscape is Changing Fast

As cranes spread across the skyline of every major city in the country and news of new large-scale developments emerge daily, one thing is certain – we are back building. And with this increased demand comes increased pressure to find talent for our sites. To its own detriment, the construction industry has notoriously been among the slowest to embrace change. The sector has had a reputation for exclusivity, ‘old-school’ approaches and rigid practices, which has proven to be a barrier for applicants from diverse backgrounds and a deterrent for many young people choosing careers in construction. Recently, we have seen the industry embrace a more diverse workforce, propelled by a high demand for talent and skilled labour. The pool from which we source talent becomes incredibly limited if we restrict our scope and in the current climate, we can’t afford to be exclusive of any good, quality workers.

The industry is working hard to entice new, talented workers onto sites and are making an effort to appeal to people from all backgrounds. Many major companies have identified this issue and have incorporated diversity initiatives into their corporate missions – to show that viable career options exist for everyone. Recruiting from outside the regular pool of candidates is the best option to alleviate the high demand that we are facing in the current Building Boom, and it’s proven to be a more successful choice than anyone would have thought. A recent article on Independent.ie outlines the success that’s come from hiring women and older candidates to fill machine operative roles. It’s a solution that has helped to ease demand while bringing a diverse group of people with new and different insights and experiences to our sites.

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) launched their #BuildingEquality campaign in 2018 with the aim of debunking the commonly held belief that the industry is ‘just for boys.’ The female presence in the Irish construction industry has become more prominent in recent years, however, women still only count for 6% of the industry’s workforce. We’ve seen an influx in female applicants for roles, from dumper drivers to storewomen, so we predict this figure is only going to grow.

This industry is undergoing extreme growth and the face of construction in Ireland is diversifying and changing fast. Sherlock Recruitment are highly aware of the trends occurring in the sector and the increasing need for skilled talent. We are known for never compromising on the quality of staff, our extensive database of qualified tradespeople and finding the most suitable candidates for every role. With Sherlock Recruitment, your sites will always be a safe and diverse place for your workforce.