Like with any company or organization, regardless of the industry, culture and teamwork go hand in hand when discussing the overall health of the company. With that said, what do you when one of your top performers doesn’t get along with the rest of your team? They bring in the most sales but tend to butt heads with everyone. Honestly, the most simple solution may also be the hardest; if your top performer is causing a toxic or hostile work environment, they need to go.
We may already be a quarter of the way through the new year but it is never to late to try and plan for what lies ahead. This is no different for the construction industry in 2019. However, a report released in late 2018 may, in fact, show a very minimal change in construction activity, only increasing in revenue by about $2 million from the previous year. So what does this mean?
In short, this could simply mean that while record growth within the construction industry is starting to plateau, spending and activity related to projects are most likely going to stay constant through 2019 with very minimal increases in overall spending. However, there are still some key factors that indicate a change is on the horizon. Based on past events with a similarly strong economy, this level of growth and spending is simply not sustainable over a long period of time.
Chief Economist and VP of Dodge Data & Analytics, Robert Murray, believes that a even if the construction industry sees a decrease in activity that doesn’t necessarily mean that the overall state will suffer a decline. It is his belief that overall value and spending on construction starts will achieve a “deceleration…the enhanced level of activity that has been achieved over the past several years.” In essence, the construction industry may fall back to where spending and activity was at its most profitable and sustainable over the past few years; a decline but not drastic.
However, according to Cristian deRitis, the Senior Director of Moody’s Analytics, the biggest red flag indicating an economic decline is the steady but low unemployment rate. Cristian argues that, historically, “any time unemployment hovers around 4.5%, recession comes about three years later.” And, in fact, ever since March of 2018, the unemployment rate has been steadily dropping. With this information in mind, according to Moody’s Analytics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this could mean that the economy is due for a recession next summer.
In addition, it is no surprise that the desperate demand for a skilled workforce is effecting the overall health of the construction industry. In a recent survey performed by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk, 81% of those surveyed said they are having a hard time filling craft positions and 56% said the same thing about salaried positions. Where a small number of contractors are attempting to sustain through the labor shortage, the overall problem is that economists agree that is a problem that isn’t going away overnight. Only time will tell how much the construction industry will be able to retain this level of productivity through a long-term labor shortage and consistent low unemployment rates. However, all signs seem to point to 2019 remaining steady and profitable.
The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.
Trillium Staffing is excited to announce that once again they have been recognized by West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2019. The awards competition provides the regional business community with the opportunity to showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. The awards are presented to organizations based on nominations and direct feedback from employees of each organization.
Throughout 2018, the name of the game was employee retention. As the job market continues to tighten and the unemployment rate remains the lowest it has been in years, this trend is certainly continuing into the new year. As we march past the 1st quarter of 2019, companies need to continue to focus on employee retention and come to terms with how this affects their overall hiring strategy.
As Technology continues to advance in the automotive and trucking industries, the question keeps getting raised; Will Truck Drivers eventually be replaced with self-driving trucks? The short answer, even from tech companies, is no.
So, you’re feeling confident in your resume and have been applying to what you feel are the right jobs for you, but now the interview requests start coming in. Don’t worry! Check out these tips to ensure that your hard work and eagerness does not go unnoticed once you’re sitting face to face with what could be your future employer.
As in the construction and transportation industries, the manufacturing sector is experiencing an ever increasing skills gap which is ultimately resulting in millions of jobs potentially going unfilled in the next 10+ years. What seems to be causing this growing issue and what can be done about it?
It’s no surprise that top performers in sales and recruiting tend to utilize and see the value in referrals. The fact of the matter is that prospective clients and customers are more inclined to buy what you’re selling if a friend or colleague can vouch for you. Referrals can be a powerful tool regardless of your industry or what it is you are selling. From selling products and services to filling orders and selling jobs, referrals should be an integral part of any sales strategy.
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) continue to be the topic of discussion in 2019, what does this mean for the recruiting process and human resources applications? The hope is simple; that if recruiters and human resources professionals can free up their time from performing the tedious, time consuming activities associated with narrowing down and locating talent, they can focus on building and strengthening the relationships with their potential hires.
Many of us grew up during a time where the notion of going to college was not only expected but was halfway shoved down our throats. Teachers, parents and even our peers were constantly talking about having a college degree was the only way to secure a stable and lucrative career. Many of us fed into this ideal resulting in thousands of dollars of student loan debt and leaving us wondering what was it all for. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are certainly specialized professions and positions that do require college degrees but that doesn’t mean that the college route is for everyone. For those of you that may have a passion for the medical industry, or a variety of engineering disciplines, college may still be the route to take. However, times are, in fact, changing and prospective job seekers have a wide variety of options available!
