As Triumph has observed in a previous blog post, the construction industry is facing a serious problem: Labor shortages.
For the past decade, the construction industry has struggled to keep up with increasing demands while the skilled worker pool continues to diminish. A variety of factors contribute to a dwindling construction labor pool, including:
- Older workers leaving the workforce
- Trade schools receiving less attention than their white-collar counterparts
- Younger workers migrating to industries that offer remote work
- Lower project growth in certain regions
This year alone, an additional 430,000 workers were needed to keep up with all of the work in the United States.
Modular construction can help.
Let’s look at the different ways that modular construction methods can help solve construction labor shortages.
One Centralized Location for Building
Traditional construction runs into problems when the build is taking place in a remote location. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other tradesmen are required to pack up and travel potentially hundreds of miles to a construction site.
Modular construction is done primarily within a factory setting, normally in a centralized location where the labor pool is much larger.
Instead of finding workers in a remote location or spending the extra money to transport workers, the build itself is transported to the site once finished.
Streamlined, Automated Processes
Traditional construction sites can be a wild card. Changes can happen on the fly. Weather conditions can cause long delays. All of these factors can spell chaos for a smaller team affected by labor shortages.
Modular factories are different. Processes are streamlined and automated, making it far easier to keep labor costs down and providing a quality build with fewer people on hand. Delays caused by weather are completely eliminated, meaning that a smaller team won’t need to compensate for lost time and be overworked while attempting to meet strict deadlines.
A Better Environment for Workers
Modular construction can help create a better environment for workers and potentially attract new workers into the industry. By assembling buildings inside a controlled environment, many delays and last-minute changes can be avoided.
This means more typical work hours for employees, which is something that workers on traditional construction sites often struggle with.
Modular can also provide a safer work environment as well, thanks to the predictable nature of factory work. Processes are heavily tested and outlined for workers to ensure that safety is always a priority.
Modular Can Help Mitigate the Cost of Labor Shortages
Modular construction already provides a number of benefits over traditional construction, from higher-cost predictability to speed to occupancy.
The ability to navigate through construction labor shortages is one such benefit.
Where traditional construction succumbs to a lack of workers, modular construction can make it work. The entire modular method lends itself to allowing companies to do more with fewer people thanks to automation and streamlined processes.
There are several solutions out there for solving construction labor shortages, from promoting safer work environments to spending more time promoting trades programs. However, these efforts will take time. In the meantime, modular construction can help solve this labor crisis and provide quality buildings into the future.
Have Questions About Modular Construction?
Reach out to our team with any questions about Triumph or modular construction in general. We’re always here to help.
