If you have recently had a need for pipe fitters for a commercial or industrial project, it’s likely you’ve experienced some difficulty in locating trained talent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for pipe fitters is expected to grow by 26% by 2020. The growing demand is fueled by upgrades in technology and industry regulations. What does this mean for your workforce needs?

As the construction industry continues to rebound and the regulations surrounding water and gas systems become more strict, the demand for trained and experienced pipe fitters has grown significantly. With many pipe fitters working on pipes that carry hazardous materials such as chemicals, acids, and gases; hiring properly trained staff is imperative. Hiring pipe fitters that are well versed in a wide range of materials such as lead, steel, copper, plastic, and aluminum as well as those who have worked in both low and high pressure piping systems can help you grow a diverse workforce that is prepared for a wide range of projects and circumstances, saving you costly downtime and unnecessary overtime due to inexperience. Struggling to find that well rounded talent?

Due to the high demand for experienced pipe fitters and the amount of time on the job needed for a pipe fitter to become proficient, well trained pipe fitters can be difficult to locate. If you find your organization is struggling to attract and retain experience pipe fitters, consider the following:

• Is your organization paying with current industry trends for pipe fitters?
• Have you offered referral bonuses to your current to staff to help you locate experienced staff?
• Have you considered hiring a traveling workforce to allow you to have the talent needed in remote locations?
• Have you partnered with trade schools to locate trained pipe fitters?
• Have you considered partnering with an industry specific construction staffing agency to help you locate pipe fitters?

As with any in-demand position, it may take a combination of recruitment efforts in order to build the experienced workforce needed to help you excel in your industry. With the demand for pipe fitters projected to grow by 26% in the coming years, now is the time to build and maintain a recruiting strategy for pipe fitters, before the search becomes more difficult.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of experienced construction workers? Contact us today!  If you are a stand out skilled trades worker seeking short or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.