How to Upskill Your Tradesmen and Close the Skills Gap

Many skilled trades lack enough workers to fill labor demands. With increasing numbers of experienced professionals retiring, fewer skilled tradespeople are replacing them. Because of this skills gap, training and upskilling are more critical now than ever. As a skilled trades employer, you need to offer your workforce the programs and opportunities needed to develop the skills to complete your projects.

Choose among these three methods to effectively increase the skill sets of your tradespeople.

1. Offer Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships allow workers to gain the education and experience needed to succeed in a skilled trade. Combining classroom instruction with hands-on training under the supervision of journey-level tradespeople provides the foundation for a long-term career. Jobsite safety, building codes, OSHA regulations, and technical documentation and blueprints are among the knowledge and skills gained. Other hard skills can be taught through guided instruction. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and work ethic are developed as well.

2. Use Technology

Customized technology can identify which of your tradespeople require training and development to enhance their skill set. Having real-time access to this data improves overall operations from the office to the field. For instance, the technology can show project managers which workers need retraining or upskilling in certain areas to complete tasks. This technology also shows the certifications that workers possess and potential gaps in other areas that require certification. Additionally, the technology can analyze which workers logged specific amounts of time in a certain area to determine whether they should upskill in related areas of work. Plus, it can match workers’ skills and requirements to tasks and activities, track their training progress, and add custom skills or tags to workers.

3. Partner with a Staffing Agency

Work with a recruiter from a staffing agency that specializes in your trade. You gain skilled temporary, contract, or permanent staff. Because the workers are thoroughly vetted and trained, they are ready to hit the ground running!

Work with Trade Management

Work with a professional recruiter from Trade Management to fill your skilled labor needs. Contact us today.

Are You a Foreman? Here’s Why You Need a Self-Improvement Plan for 2021

As a foreman, part of your success plan for 2021 should include prioritization of management self-improvement. After all, your team members’ performance depends on your performance. The more engaged you are, the more engaged your team members will be. And, the more you practice self-development to improve, the more your employees will follow your example.

Discover four reasons why you need professional self-improvement and how it can benefit your team.

Enhance Your One-on-Ones

Maximize results through effective one-on-ones. Predetermine when and where you meet, how long your discussions are, and how often you have conversations. Prepare topics to cover and questions to ask to make the subjects actionable. Provide clear, constructive feedback so your employees can improve their performance. Plus, hold your team accountable for carrying out the activities they are assigned.

Cultivate Your Listening Skills

Learn to ask great questions and focus on the answers. Pay attention to what someone is saying and ask follow-up questions. Questions may include, “How do you feel your work-life balance is right now?”,  “What motivates you to perform your best each day?” or “In which parts of your work would you like me to provide more or less direction?” Reflection is one of the best ways to perceive answers. Reflection involves sharing what you believe the person is saying and seeing if they agree. You can either get clarification or move forward knowing you interpreted their words correctly.

Encourage Buy-In

Present an idea in a way that is exciting to team members. Bring up potential concerns and solutions in advance to overcome them. Then, ask your team members for input and suggestions for improvement. When team members feel they have a say, they are more likely to “buy into” the decision.

Maximize Productivity

Because your team’s productivity is critical, emphasize improving their collective results. For instance, teach your team members to find ways to increase productivity for themselves and their teammates. This may include finding ways to make team meetings more effective. Ask whether anyone feels that someone is not fully contributing to your team’s results. If so, ask whether a team member will provide the individual with constructive criticism or set up a time to privately discuss the matter with the employee.

Enhance Your Team’s Success

Enhance your team’s success by adding experienced construction and skilled trade talent from Trade Management to your workforce. Learn firsthand how we earned the 2020 Best of Staffing award for providing remarkable service to our clients. Get started with us today.