Navigating the Skilled Workforce Shortfall

India is urbanizing at a fast pace and the UN projects that by 2050, the urban population will surpass its rural counterpart. This will result in huge demand for residential, commercial buildings, infrastructure and transportation – in short, construction will be at an unprecedented level. All this makes a case to create best standards and practices in India’s construction industry.

A big issue the construction sector is plagued with is the problem of skilled labour, or the lack of it.?While the construction and real estate industry has grown exponentially due to urbanization, infrastructure development, and increasing demand for housing and commercial spaces, there are several challenges related to the availability and quality of skilled labour. Skilled workers in critical trades such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical work, and heavy machinery operation are in short supply. As a result, construction companies often struggle to find workers with the expertise needed for specialized tasks.

India has a large pool of unskilled and semi-skilled labourers, particularly from rural areas. These workers are often employed for tasks like digging, carrying materials, and basic construction work. A significant portion of the labor force is migratory, moving from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand to urban centres for construction jobs. This scarcity of skilled labour results in slower project timelines, higher costs, and sometimes poor workmanship, which can lead to construction defects or safety issues.?

According to Sandeep Singh, Managing Director Brawn Globus, an end-to-end building design, construction, project management company, “Skilled labor workers with specialized skills (e.g., masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and welding) are in short supply. So also technologically skilled labour workers familiar with modern construction technologies and automation tools, or supervisors and foremen.?We navigate this issue by training manpower in house and?we take calculative delivery focused steps, without overstretching limits.”

What is the issue that most contractors and builders have when it comes to labour? Laborers often move between projects or return to their villages during harvest seasons, leading to inconsistent availability. Many workers lack formal training, which affects productivity and quality. Ensuring compliance with labor laws and safety standards is a challenge. Disputes over wages and delays in payment are common.

Most labourer’s lack access to formal training programs or incentives to upskill.?Government Initiatives Programs like the Skill India Mission and Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) training schemes aim to address this gap, but implementation is inconsistent. Contractors often hesitate to invest in training due to high attrition rates.

Health, safety and environment (HSE) was another subject which was discussed at this construction sector event.?Many construction sites lack proper safety equipment and protocols, leading to accidents. Migratory labourer’s often live in makeshift shelters near construction sites with inadequate sanitation and healthcare. Workers face issues like wage theft, lack of contracts, and long working hours.

There needs to be greater access to skill development programs through public- private partnerships. Use of technology can improve safety and productivity and even the need for human labour.

Technology (e.g. prefabrication, drones, and automation) can replace some manual tasks, but not fully. Skilled labor will still be needed for tasks requiring precision and adaptability. The industry is gradually adopting technology, but widespread replacement is unlikely in the near future.

The demand for skilled labor will increase as construction methods become more advanced. Workers with technical knowledge will transition to supervisory and managerial roles. Who is an ideal candidate for the construction industry- someone who is skilled and a certified labourer, and can work alongside technology, and has agility in operating and maintaining advanced automation tools.