KevinA
Well-known member
Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this. I'm looking to hire field technicians for construction materials testing and special inspections (CMT/SI)- concrete, soils, masonry, steel, etc. No degree needed, but need to find folks with ACI and ICC certs. I've had ads posted for over a month in the typical places- careerbuilder, indeed, craigslist, and even have a couple headhunters looking for us.
I've only seen 3 resumes so far that I would even consider, and they don't really have the background and certs I'm looking for. They have roadway experience, which is great, but I'm looking more for vertical experience. We'd have to train and get them certified, which may be fine for the right candidate and we are considering that while we keep looking.
I also posted an ad on the local community college website, where they have a 2-year civil technology program. I later followed up with the department head for that program and he offered some interesting insight. He said that when the economy tanked and particularly the construction industry was looking down, their enrollment numbers dropped drastically, such that they are only graduating 2 this spring. Students then were going into other fields. The incoming enrollments are better now, but it will take a while to cycle those students through.
Our company is also looking to hire recent civil grads with EI for land development / civil design. They are struggling to find good candidates as well. We suspect the enrollments dropped for those 4-year grads too, and there may just not be as many coming into the field.
We are seeing this across multiple office locations in NC and SC. Anybody else seeing this trend? Is there becoming a shortage in our field?
I've only seen 3 resumes so far that I would even consider, and they don't really have the background and certs I'm looking for. They have roadway experience, which is great, but I'm looking more for vertical experience. We'd have to train and get them certified, which may be fine for the right candidate and we are considering that while we keep looking.
I also posted an ad on the local community college website, where they have a 2-year civil technology program. I later followed up with the department head for that program and he offered some interesting insight. He said that when the economy tanked and particularly the construction industry was looking down, their enrollment numbers dropped drastically, such that they are only graduating 2 this spring. Students then were going into other fields. The incoming enrollments are better now, but it will take a while to cycle those students through.
Our company is also looking to hire recent civil grads with EI for land development / civil design. They are struggling to find good candidates as well. We suspect the enrollments dropped for those 4-year grads too, and there may just not be as many coming into the field.
We are seeing this across multiple office locations in NC and SC. Anybody else seeing this trend? Is there becoming a shortage in our field?
