Labor issues have been a concern for years in the metal roofing industry. After the global shutdowns in 2020, supply shortages and higher material prices have been added to the list of problems that metal roof contractors have to deal with besides the growing labor shortage.
At Western States Metal Roofing, we understand how all of these issues have made the past two years incredibly stressful for industry professionals to accept and complete jobs on schedule. We work with contractors everyday supplying their metal roofing and siding materials and listen to their frustrations regarding the labor shortage.
In this article, we discuss why there’s a labor shortage along with recruiting tips to alleviate some of the stress of having a smaller workforce in the metal roofing industry.
While there was a trend of construction workers leaving the industry to pursue other fields prior to the pandemic, the events of 2020 led many older professionals to retire.
Unfortunately, there are less workers to replace the workers that have left as the new generation has less of an interest in construction jobs. A 2016 study from the National Association of Home Builders found that only 3 percent of surveyed 18 to 25-year-olds want a career in construction. This leaves less workers to complete projects, resulting in more work needing to be done by less people. In 2020, The Commercial Construction Index found that 73% of contractors were having to ask their current workers to take on additional projects, resulting in concerns of employee burnout.
The available workforce for metal roofing jobs is dwindling, as 83% of contractors from the Commercial Construction Index mentioned above reported moderate to high levels of difficulty in finding skilled workers.
Along with contractor frustration and the inability to take on more projects, less workers resulted in longer project times and higher labor costs for customers. In most cases today, the total cost for labor is more than the cost of materials.
Finding new talent is great, but metal roofing requires a specific set of skills and experience that takes time to develop. A much easier route to find the help you need now is to attract metal roof installers that are retired through pay incentives, job benefits, and a more flexible work schedule. While retirees from the metal roofing industry may not want to return to work full time, you can still take advantage of their experience on a part time basis.
Increase the areas where you are posting your jobs. Online job boards, such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter, are great resources. However, you should also consider going the “old school” approach and doing offline recruiting such as local job postings and fliers on bulletin boards throughout your community.
Your next employee might be someone that your current employee already knows. Ask your current employees if they know of anyone who is looking for work and is qualified for a role you need filled.
Word of mouth on social media allows your current employees to reach out to their networks that might include some potential candidates that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access. A recruiting bonus for employees who bring on a successful candidate can make this approach even more effective.
Current industry professionals can help educate youth on choosing a profession within the roofing industry to help break the stigma against trade schools. Ways to do this include participating in a local job fair or having an open house for high school students so they can see what the industry has to offer.
When recruiting, discuss the benefits of working in the metal roofing industry such as high demand, higher pay, and the ability to move up. This can help attract new talent from the younger generation, male and female. Encouraging women to join the roofing industry is a great way to make our industry stronger than ever.
As you navigate the current labor shortage and supply chain issues impacting the metal roofing industry, make sure you are transparent with your clients. Be realistic with your project schedules ahead of time to set expectations about how long installations will take with the current workforce you have as you look for new qualified candidates.
When it comes to supply chain issues, we highly advise getting in your orders as quickly as possible by requesting a quote to avoid any potential delays. Make sure your current metal roofing supplier is reliable, knowledgeable and supportive to ensure your projects are delivered on time If they are not, it’s time to look into switching metal suppliers.