Why do you think millennials don’t want construction jobs?
Do millennials want construction jobs? This is quite a common question in our industry and it’s no wonder that with how the job market consistently changes.
In past generations manual labour jobs were common. Now with the rise in technology more office based jobs take up the market share. So the question is do we think millennials don’t want construction jobs?
It is important to remember, that the youngest millennial is in fact mid twenties. So millennials are not the youngest generation in the workforce. This offers clarification on who we are talking about.
It may surprise you to hear that it’s not all on millennials. As the younger generation reaches the workforce, what they are looking for from an employer is different to the ones before them.
Work Life balance is key for many younger generations, and businesses in all industries need to consider this when recruiting new employees. Millennials are the generation who have been told to work smarter not harder. This means if there is a way to make a role simpler then they will explore that. Businesses who remain trapped in old processes may lose out to new talent.
So the question isn’t that millennials don’t want to work in construction, but how can construction companies recruit millennials?
How have construction jobs changed?
Since the beginning of time construction has always been a part of life. From building houses, highways, industrial estates, warehouses, and more.
Before technology many tasks in construction relied upon a manual process. From taking measurements, surveying lands, and more. As technology evolved, so did the construction industry. Measurements became digitalised, as did plans and designs, even now surveys can be completed with various technology such as drones.
As technology continues to evolve so will the landscape of construction roles, as long as businesses embrace these changes.
Improving with technology and other advancements will ultimately change the way a construction job is done. This means gone are the days of pencils, hauling and handling with only a wheelbarrow.
So it is not so much that millennials aren’t working in construction roles. They are simply working in a different capacity to what a construction role previously entailed.
How to appeal to younger generations in the job market
Younger generations, and the younger millennials look for work life balance and flexibility. There are many roles which offer this and as such construction companies need to consider ways in which they can also offer flexibility.
Another key thing to consider when looking to recruit younger generations, is what could their career path look like? Gone are the days of chasing a job title and income for status. Millennials and those younger want to make an impact and improve the world around them. If they can do this through their job then they will be far more fulfilled and stay in jobs longer.
Using this, businesses will need to look at ways they can streamline their internal processes and make better business decisions that have positive impacts on the environment and world.
Additionally, while money isn’t everything millennials look for. They know their worth and expect to be paid for it. This means you can’t expect minimum salaries for high flying jobs.
The construction industry is a fast moving industry in terms of recruitment. Having a recruitment agent who understands your needs is essential to finding the right talent. Here at FBR recruitment, our experts are on hand to make sure you find the right person for the right job. Contact us today.
