Top Hiring Trends in Construction for 2025: Navigating a New Era of Recruitment

Top Hiring Trends in Construction for 2025

In a competitive labor market, with 454,000 additional workers needed by 2025, staying ahead in construction hiring is crucial for success. From adopting cutting-edge technologies to meeting the rising demand for sustainable practices, construction firms are rethinking their operations.

Central to this evolution is the workforce, as labor shortages and an aging demographic put increasing pressure on hiring managers. Addressing these challenges requires adapting to new hiring trends and exploring innovative approaches to securing top talent.

Recruitment has never been more critical to the industry’s success. As hiring challenges grow, many companies are turning to specialized recruitment partners who understand the nuances of construction hiring. With their ability to provide tailored solutions and build pipelines of pre-qualified candidates, these firms offer employers a way to stay ahead in a competitive labor market.

This blog explores labor shortages, salary insights, and sector-specific hiring strategies, including the retail boom, industrial growth, and modular multifamily solutions. With detailed insights and actionable solutions, employers can position themselves for success in 2025.

In this blog, we will cover:

  1. Labor Shortages in Construction: Addressing the Workforce Crisis in 2025
  2. Trends in Construction Recruitment: General Hiring Insights
  3. Sector-Specific Construction Hiring Trends: Retail, Industrial, Multifamily, Commercial, and K-12
  4. Recruitment Strategies for Construction Workforce Solutions
  5. Future-Proofing Construction Hiring: Preparing for 2025 and Beyond
  6. The Road Ahead: Recruitment Strategies to Thrive in the Construction Industry

Labor Shortages in Construction: Addressing the Workforce Crisis in 2025

Labor Shortages in Construction: Addressing the Workforce Crisis in 2025

The labor shortage continues to define the construction industry. In 2025, the sector will need 454,000 additional workers to meet growing demand, a number that highlights the scale of the problem. Between August 2023 and July 2024, the industry averaged 382,000 job openings monthly, with over 90% of contractors reporting difficulty filling both hourly and salaried positions.

Adding to this challenge is the aging workforce.

Did You Know? The average age of craft workers is expected to rise to 46 by 2030, intensifying the need for proactive hiring strategies.

These demographics indicate a wave of retirements that will create even greater gaps in the workforce. Attracting younger workers to fill these roles is vital, as is upskilling current employees to meet the demands of a changing industry.

Another critical challenge is the skills gap. As the construction industry increasingly incorporates advanced technologies like drones, robotics, and Building Information Modeling (BIM), the need for workers with digital skills has skyrocketed. Over 44% of the skills needed in infrastructure are expected to evolve over the next five years. This rapid shift leaves many companies struggling to find employees who can adapt to this new environment.

Trends in Construction Recruitment: General Hiring Insights

The construction workforce is being shaped by several broader trends that go beyond the labor shortage.

Economic Uncertainty and Rising Costs: High interest rates and fluctuating commodity prices temper investments in new builds, mainly residential construction. Developers are focusing on renovations and retrofits as financing challenges grow. Meanwhile, wages for skilled construction workers continue to rise as companies compete for talent, further adding to overall project costs.

Sustainability and Green Building: Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in construction—it’s a requirement. Projects prioritizing energy efficiency, net-zero carbon emissions, and green-certified materials are becoming the norm, driven by regulatory mandates and consumer expectations. This shift is creating new roles and opportunities for workers skilled in sustainable design and construction.

What Are Workers Looking For?

The construction workforce, particularly at junior to mid-levels, is increasingly drawn to more flexible working environments. While remote and flexible work options remain limited for field roles due to their on-site responsibilities, there is a noticeable shift toward greater flexibility for office-based positions like project management and estimating.

Work-life balance is also becoming a critical factor for candidates when evaluating both new opportunities and existing roles. Many professionals now prioritize positions that offer:

  • Fixed working hours.
  • No weekend commitments.
  • Reduced or more manageable commute times.

Employers who adapt to these expectations are better positioned to attract and retain top talent in a competitive hiring landscape.

Sector-Specific Construction Hiring Trends: Retail, Industrial, Multifamily, Commercial, and K-12

The construction industry continues to transform as market demands and technology evolve. Each sector of the construction industry faces unique hiring challenges and opportunities.

Here’s what employers in each sector should know:

Retail construction is adapting to evolving consumer habits and the growing dominance of e-commerce. Retailers like Walmart are investing heavily in remodeling their existing locations, with a $1.5 billion initiative to modernize over 1,000 stores. The focus is on features like expanded curbside pickup zones, tech-friendly layouts, and sustainability.

Demand for Skills and Roles:

  • Traveling Superintendents: These professionals are crucial for managing multi-site projects that require frequent relocation. They must have experience in night-shift remodels to minimize disruption in operational stores and be adept at coordinating teams across different locations.
  • Retail Construction Managers: Project managers specializing in phased renovations are in high demand to ensure timelines and budgets are met while maintaining operational continuity.
  • Estimators: The rise in adaptive reuse projects and compact urban store layouts increases the need for estimators skilled in creating detailed budgets tailored to modern retail demands.
  • Urban and Suburban Planners: These experts design layouts that align with e-commerce trends, such as customer-centric curbside pickup zones and smaller, technology-enabled urban stores.

Walmart’s pivot from building mega-stores to renovating operational locations demonstrates the growing demand for construction professionals capable of balancing sustainability, technology integration, and customer convenience.

The rapid growth of e-commerce and cloud computing continues to fuel industrial construction, particularly in logistics hubs and data centers, where sustainability and technology integration are key priorities.

Demand for Skills and Roles:

  • Traveling Superintendents: Logistics hubs and data centers are rarely built in clusters, requiring superintendents skilled in managing projects across states. They must adapt to various site conditions and adhere to tight schedules.
  • Sustainability Engineers: With LEED certifications and energy efficiency now essential, engineers proficient in designing renewable energy systems and sustainable facilities are in demand.
  • Construction Managers: IoT and automation are increasingly integrated into industrial projects, creating demand for managers overseeing tech-heavy construction while balancing cost and efficiency.
  • High-Security Infrastructure Specialists: Data centers require contractors who can build secure facilities to protect sensitive information and have physical and cyber resilience expertise.

Amazon’s expansion of fulfillment centers and data hubs highlights the need for contractors skilled in building sustainable, scalable, and technology-integrated facilities.

K-12 construction is thriving as local governments invest in new schools and renovations to accommodate growing populations. Bond-funded initiatives in the southern U.S. are driving a surge in projects prioritizing sustainability and technology.

Demand for Skills and Roles:

  • School Construction Project Managers: These professionals must navigate local government regulations, manage community expectations, and ensure smooth execution of bond-funded projects.
  • Construction Estimators for Public Projects: Public-sector projects demand estimators skilled in creating budgets that account for energy-efficient features, such as solar panels, smart technologies, and sustainable materials.
  • Field Superintendents: With a focus on safety and on-time delivery, superintendents must oversee large-scale school projects while adhering to strict compliance standards.

The record number of school bonds passed in 2025 underscores the demand for contractors who can manage public-sector projects with a focus on creating energy-efficient, tech-ready learning environments.

The multifamily sector is leveraging modular construction to meet the growing demand for affordable housing. Developers are also emphasizing shared amenities that cater to remote work and modern lifestyles.

Demand for Skills and Roles:

  • Modular Construction Specialists: These experts are key to expediting project timelines and minimizing waste by using prefabrication techniques. They play a critical role in helping developers achieve cost efficiency.
  • Multifamily Construction Managers: Managers are tasked with balancing budgets and incorporating shared amenities like co-working spaces, fitness centers, and communal areas that cater to modern renters.
  • Residential Construction Superintendents: Superintendents must manage high-density projects efficiently, ensuring compliance with local regulations while maintaining quality.

Multifamily developers are allocating more resources toward creating remote-work-friendly spaces, reflecting the importance of community-oriented designs alongside modular efficiency.

The commercial sector is embracing advanced technologies and sustainability to meet client expectations for eco-friendly and smart spaces. Renovations in occupied spaces are particularly common, requiring specialized expertise to minimize operational disruptions.

Demand for Skills and Roles:

  • BIM Specialists: As digital tools become standard, BIM specialists are vital for optimizing workflows, enhancing collaboration, and integrating sustainable solutions into commercial projects.
  • Green Building Consultants: These professionals are essential for securing LEED certifications, ensuring compliance with green building mandates, and incorporating eco-friendly materials into designs.
  • Occupied-Space Superintendents: Renovations in active office spaces demand superintendents skilled in balancing construction activities with tenant needs, ensuring minimal disruptions.
  • Estimators: With sustainability and technology becoming integral to projects, estimators who can create budgets that reflect these priorities are in high demand.

The shift toward LEED-certified renovations and IoT-enabled offices highlights the growing demand for contractors adept in both sustainable practices and advanced technology integration.

No matter your needs, Scott Humphrey takes a proactive approach to construction recruitment, ensuring you have the right professionals to meet the demands of modern construction. From sourcing experienced traveling superintendents to planners skilled in adaptive reuse, we provide tailored solutions to keep your projects on track and aligned with ever-changing industry trends.

Recruitment Strategies for Construction Workforce Solutions

Recruitment Strategies for Construction Workforce Solutions

As hiring challenges grow, companies need innovative solutions to attract, hire, and retain skilled workers. This is where recruitment firms like Scott Humphrey play a pivotal role. Their proactive approach ensures that employers have access to pre-qualified candidates ready to step into roles when needed.

Scott Humphrey specializes in construction recruitment solutions tailored to the unique demands of each sector. By maintaining a pipeline of skilled workers, they eliminate delays in hiring and reduce turnover.

Their expertise extends to building long-term relationships with both employers and candidates, ensuring the right cultural and technical fit for every role. Scott Humphrey’s tailored approach delivers measurable results for companies seeking candidates proactively.

Future-Proofing Construction Hiring: Preparing for 2025 and Beyond

As we move toward 2025, the construction industry will face increasing pressure to adapt to economic, technological, and regulatory shifts. Employers that embrace proactive hiring strategies and partner with trusted recruitment agencies like Scott Humphrey will be best positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape.

To stay competitive, companies must focus on a few key areas:

  1. Technology Integration: Advanced tools like BIM, drones, and AI are no longer optional—they’re essential. Employers need workers who are not just skilled in traditional construction but also proficient in these technologies.
  2. Sustainability: With green building mandates on the rise, hiring professionals with expertise in energy-efficient design and sustainable construction practices is critical.
  3. Workforce Diversity: Attracting underrepresented groups, such as women and minorities, can help address labor shortages while bringing new perspectives to the industry.
  4. Health and Wellness Initiatives: As mental health and worker safety become increasingly important, companies must prioritize well-being to retain top talent.

Scott Humphrey is uniquely equipped to support employers in all these areas, providing insights and expertise beyond traditional recruitment.

The Road Ahead: Recruitment Strategies to Thrive in the Construction Industry

The Road Ahead: Recruitment Strategies to Thrive in the Construction Industry

The construction industry in 2025 presents both challenges and opportunities. By understanding and adapting to key hiring trends, companies can position themselves for success. Hiring the right talent is critical when navigating labor shortages, incorporating new technologies, or meeting sustainability goals.

Specialized recruitment agencies like Scott Humphrey are essential partners in this process. Their proactive strategies, tailored solutions, and deep industry expertise help employers overcome workforce challenges and secure the talent they need to thrive. Reach out today, or visit their website. You can also find them on LinkedIn.

If you’re looking for a firm with experience placing roles in Digital Marketing and Finance & Accounting, don’t hesitate to contact them today.

By staying informed about hiring trends and leveraging expert recruitment support, construction firms can confidently navigate the complexities of 2025 and beyond. The future of the industry will be built on the foundation of its workforce—are you ready?