Page 34 - CV Aug-Sep 2023 Issue

MANPOWER SHORTAGE HAUNTS

Indian Construction Industry

ust as the knowledge sector such The demand for civil engineers, too, is shortage of construction workers. It has
as IT, ITeS and bio-technology, the much more than the available strength. also been pointed out that the
JIndian construction industry, which Most of them prefer taking up jobs in the construction sector will account for over
is set to witness massive investments in IT sector or accept lucrative assignments one fourth of new jobs to be created in
the next five years, is also facing an in the Middle East. the next eight years. With pending
acute shortage of skilled workforce. The Civil engineering graduates don't find projects and thousands of vacancies
construction industry in India is facing a these jobs lucrative because construction staring them in the face the developers
huge shortage of manpower, especially companies don't pay enough and the are trying all tactics to get the required
those with skill-sets to sustain the jobs are also temporary. After a project is workforce. However, turnover is not the
burgeoning growth in infrastructure and finished in one state the company moves only casualty of this shortage as several
housing sectors. to its project in another state leaving the construction companies have also been
workers behind. In most cases the forced to lower their recruitment
The real estate boom has increased the workers too don't prefer to shift unless standards.
demand for construction workers they get good salaries and perks like in
manifold and hiring workforce is the IT companies. The companies, which earlier had
becoming a major task for construction stringent qualifying standards, have now
companies. Shortage of construction lowered the bar.
According to a study many huge projects
workers has, in fact, slowed down the Secondly, they are no longer insisting on
in major industrial belts are getting
growth of industry in metros and major hiring engineering graduates only as
delayed by 12 to 18 months because of
cities across the country. Special diploma holders too are welcome. Now
non-availability of workers. According to
technically skilled manpower and project construction companies are also
the study cities like Mumbai, New Delhi,
managers having all round knowledge approaching educational institutions for
Gurgaon, Chennai, Hyderabad,
are in short supply. There is 30 per cent job placements.
Bangalore and Kolkata are facing severe
shortage of specially skilled workforce.

CONSTRUCTION VISION 32 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2023