Survey hammers home skills shortage

Teletrac Navman, Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) and Contractor magazine have been busy collecting some cold, hard stats to share at the annual CCNZ conference, in Dunedin this week.

Jim French, Construction Industry Specialist at Teletrac Navman, presented key findings from the first ever New Zealand Construction Industry Survey on Thursday morning. Aimed at illuminating the state of the bourgeoning industry, the survey gauges attitudes on a wide range of issues regarding productivity, training, staffing, safety, measurement and the use of technology. Survey results collected represent a wide range of people in the industry - from project managers to company CEOs to contractors, with a mix of ages and experience, working in small to large businesses.

Many of the issues that arose are no surprise, but what did stand out is the extent of the challenges faced by businesses. As demand for construction surges, the industry is constrained by capacity, compliance and sluggish contract turnaround times. Despite the challenges, the survey indicates positive attitudes towards industry growth, a dedication to workplace health and safety, and smart thinking around improving productivity.

Labour and skills shortage

The results reveal a staggering 84 percent of those in construction industry management roles (General, Project and Fleet Managers) identify labour and skills shortages as a major issue facing the industry, with 69 percent of all respondents agreeing. Almost two thirds of respondents anticipate that they will be needing more staff in the upcoming year. So severe is the shortage that 84 percent of respondents say they would hire immediately, if labour with the right skills were available. That’s a big ‘if’ - finding skilled, motivated workers who can pass workplace drug testing is proving to be a real challenge.

Creating a positive workplace

On the flipside, 40 percent say that being an employer of choice is a key opportunity for their business. Making the workplace a productive and positive place for employees is a key component in retaining current staff and recruiting new staff. Functional and intelligent technology can play a big part in improving the work environment. Companies who encourage the use of technology can further appeal to a generation of workers who appreciate and actively adapt to using new technology.

Teletrac Navman offers many features that streamline the workflow, reduce paperwork, provide clear, unbiased data and useful health and safety features. The DIRECTOR software, with an open API can be easily integrated into third-party platforms to create an automated end-to-end workflow and present transport managers with an overall picture. Businesses can also set up automated back-end processes, integrating with finance and office software, meaning employees spend less time on boring administrative work.

With workplace health & safety an imperative for the industry, communicating and being transparent about technology for tracking vehicles and assets creates a more positive work environment. Regular maintenance checks can be scheduled for vehicles based on distance travelled, making sure they are kept in best condition for operators.The construction industry has plenty of projects in the pipeline, but technology can help to relief the pressure. 

Stay ahead of the game with new technology and become an employer of choice.