If you’ve worked in construction for even just a year, you’re no stranger to switching jobs when work on one site is complete. Yet – add in a crazy labor market, you might find yourself searching for work with little to no luck.
Throughout this year, we’ve heard, “There aren’t enough people to fill our roles” from our clients (construction companies), and we’ve heard, “I can’t seem to find work, despite putting in lots of applications,” from our candidates.
Current Construction Job Market
It’s been a challenging year for skilled tradesmen to find steady work in the construction industry, and the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics back it up. The job openings in construction dropped significantly from 395,000 in May 2024 to just 229,000 in July.
At the same time, the separation rate (proportion of employees who leave a job during a specific period) saw a sharp increase, jumping from 257,000 in June to 364,000 in July, which means higher job instability across the board for skilled tradesmen.
With fluctuations in unemployment rates, ranging from 5.2% in April to a low of 3.3% in June, and the rising volatility in job gains and losses, it’s clear that skilled tradesmen in need of work are in a tough market.
How To Find a Construction Job in a Tough Market
If you’ve been searching and applying for more than a few weeks and have yet to receive a job offer, it’s likely time to consider working with a construction employment agency, like Skilled Trades Partners. You can work with STP at no cost to you, and get a dedicated recruiter that will be there to support you through every step of your job search process.
How Does Working with a Construction Staffing Company Help You Find a Job?
Have you ever wondered why that construction company you applied to online never got back to you (AKA, ghosted you)? Chances are, they posted the job but they don’t have anyone on their team actively monitoring the applications or setting up interviews. This is because some construction company owners take hiring into their own hands, and then they get too busy to follow through with the process.
If you work with STP to find a role, you’ll only be applying to jobs that are actively hiring, and we’ll do all of the interview coordination between you and the company with the open role. Plus, if you get hired – you can rely on us for everything from payroll to benefits, during the entire duration of the role (unless you get hired for a permanent position, and in that case, it’ll go through the company you’re working at).
Get Matched with a Job Based on Your Skills & Preferences
Let your construction staffing company know what you’re looking for and what you can provide to a role in terms of skills for the best chance of being matched with a job you love. This means having open conversations about your must-haves (and must-nots) in a job and being 100% transparent about what skills you have and don’t have. Our recruiters at STP work hard to ensure our skilled tradesmen have the best pay, opportunities, and best-fit jobs for them.
Explore Temp or Perm Construction Roles, and Find What Works Best for You
When working with a construction staffing company like STP, something you’ll need to consider is whether you’re looking to pursue a temporary or permanent position. Either way – there can be pros and cons to each, depending on your goals.
Temporary roles can be perfect for you if you enjoy working on different projects, experiencing variety, and having the flexibility to move around. However, they can also mean less job stability (which isn’t ideal in today’s market) and fewer long-term benefits. That said, all temporary employees at STP have the chance to secure a consistent lineup of roles, and our recruiters are always looking for the next best opportunity for those already in a temp role with us. On the flip side, permanent roles offer more stability and opportunities for long-term growth – though they may come with fewer chances to switch things up or gain experience across various projects.
Ultimately, the choice between temporary and permanent work is yours – and if you can’t decide, temp to perm roles are another great option.
Below, we’ve laid out the pros and cons of each role type to help you decide what’s best for you:
| Role Type | Pros | Cons |
| Temp Roles |
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| Permanent Roles |
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Save Yourself the Time & Headache of Doing the Construction Job Search Process Alone
Searching for a job in construction can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially if you’re looking to start a new role as soon as possible. The best way around this is reaching out to STP to get the process of working with us started, so you can be set up with one of our recruiters and so we can help you find a job as soon as possible. Simply apply to one of our open jobs or contact us with what you’re looking for—we’re looking forward to finding the right fit for you!