How Prefabrication Affects Construction Labor

As we’ve discussed previously, the construction industry is facing a talent shortage right now. In other words, there are not enough construction professionals to complete all the work that is available.

Fortunately, the industry has adopted a trend called prefabrication (prefab) over the past few years. This method involves creating components of a structure offsite, then transporting them to another location so it can be assembled.

Prefab is filling the gap created by the talent shortage since firms can create the same structure using only top, qualified talent.

Here are some other reasons why prefabrication has taken off in the construction market.

Less Strain

Because of the talent gap, workers are stretched thin. They are typically doing the job of more than one person in order to complete projects on schedule and on budget. This is not healthy in the long run, especially in the case of workers who are performing physically demanding tasks.

With prefab, though, much of the work is done offsite in a factory. This means that the onsite work is less taxing. Whether professionals are working in these factories or onsite, the work is divvied up and streamlined.

Additionally, moving some construction offsite means that professionals don’t necessarily have to travel to the site. In other words, professionals located near the factory where components are built will only have to travel there. This reduces travel strain caused by commuting to various sites over time.

Safety

The factories used for prefab create a controlled, secure environment. With less exposure to the elements or elevated work areas, firms can create a safer working environment for professionals by implementing prefab.

With this method, workers will no longer have to deal with inclement weather or risky locations. There is also less pressure to perform onsite when weather conditions are treacherous because using prefab alleviates scheduling and budget crunches.

Possible Compensation

Since prefab can save firms money by streamlining the process, their profit margins will be more satisfactory. It is possible that this increase in revenue could leave room for professionals to negotiate a slightly higher salary.

If nothing else, prefab leads to shorter build times. This means that professionals can take on several projects in the time they used to allocate for a single job. If navigated thoughtfully, this could allow them to capitalize and earn more in that span of time.

If you’d like to learn more about the opportunities out there for construction professionals, please reach out to the expert consultants at Michael Page today. You can also submit your resume or browse job listings.