SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Aug. 28, 2024) — Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Arcoro, a leading HR software company for the construction and field services industries, announced the results of the 2024 AGC Workforce Survey during a virtual media conference on Wednesday.  

The survey, conducted between late July and early August, collected responses from nearly 1,500 firms across various sectors of the construction industry. It is designed to measure the extent of workforce shortages, their effects on construction firms and projects, and the strategies companies are employing to cope with these shortages and attract more talent to the industry.  

Wednesday’s briefing included remarks from AGC Chief Executive Officer Jeff Shoaf, AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson, Arcoro Director of Partnerships Carrie Gardenhire, and Rhys Ivy Construction Principal Layota Goree Smith. 

Gardenhire offered a deeper analysis of the survey results from a workforce management perspective, saying, “When we look at this year’s data, Arcoro sees an industry trying very hard to bring in new talent, trying new techniques, tactics and technology but without necessarily combining those efforts with the professional focus necessary to maximize their investment. Firms with a combination of HR staff and HR technology may be the most likely to win the war for talent.” 

Gardenhire highlighted the challenges contractors face in filling open positions while growing their workforce and reducing attrition. She also emphasized the potential for contractors to use HR software to automate the job distribution and hiring process, helping to close the gap between their hiring strategies and results. In addition, Gardenhire pointed out the limitations and overruns companies encounter when they lack HR staff specifically focused on recruiting and retention. 

 Key statistics from the workforce survey include: 

  • 94% of construction firms report having open positions they are trying to fill 
  • 54% of firms say that lack of talent is contributing to project delays 
  • 65% expect to increase headcount in the coming year 
  • Over 50% of respondents indicate that new hires either quit very quickly or don’t show up for work at all  
  • 20% of contractors have implemented HR software to streamline hiring and retention tasks 
  • 42% of firms are either increasing or initiating spending on training and development, a figure that increases to over 50% for larger firms with more than $500 million in annual revenue  
  • 22% of respondents indicate they don’t employ HR staff 
  • About 85% of firms with over $500 million in revenue employ HR staff, compared to just around 70% of firms less than $50 million in revenue  

The 2024 Workforce Survey marks AGC’s 12th annual survey focused on workforce issues and is the first time Arcoro has partnered with the association for this research. 

View the survey materials, including national, regional and state fact sheets to learn more about what the workforce survey data signifies for construction HR, workforce management and tech adoption. 

About Arcoro  

A rapidly growing SaaS company, Arcoro offers proven modular HR solutions for construction and field-based industries. The company’s leading product suite and software platform offers end-to-end HR functionality to help drive business outcomes. With Arcoro’s flexible solutions, customers select the modules that meet their needs for talent acquisition, talent management, core HR, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking and more. Learn more at arcoro.com.  

About Associated General Contractors of America 

The Associated General Contractors of America works to ensure the continued success of the commercial construction industry by advocating for supportive federal, state and local measures; providing opportunities for firms to learn about ways to become more accomplished; and connecting them with the resources and individuals they need to be successful business and corporate citizens.