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USA in focus Gen Z want a challenge, but also value their personal time
01 Construction
Navigating the talent crisis 02 Employment growth
The construction sector is bouncing back following difficult years and heavy impact on profits 03 Gen Z Understanding what motivates the workforce of tomorrow 04 Closing the gap Aligning the construction industry with Gen Z’s aspirations 05 Proactively altering Gen Z’s perceptions Addressing the construction industry’s image problem 06 Refreshing the industry’s
Our construction research in the USA spans 50 corporate respondents and 50 Gen Z respondents. Highlights from our research in the USA include:
Downturn in profits reported with greater frequency. 64% of US corporate respondents report suffering financial loss due to the insolvency of a contractor or supplier over the last 12 months, compared with just 52% globally. Delays in project timelines and projects being suspended was the second biggest factor impacting profit, affecting 56% of US corporates compared to 44% globally. A work-life balance perception gap. Work-life balance is the most important factor for US students when assessing their future career, with 46% considering it an ‘essential’ factor. Only 30% of corporates recognise this, however. For students, this is a problematic aspect of working in construction: only 34% agree that the industry offers a good work-life balance, and 54% consider the prospect of working 6 or more days a week to be one of the biggest drawbacks of working in the industry.
The social purpose gap. Social purpose plays a more significant role in the considerations of young people in the US compared to their peers in other geographies: 42% of students deem this factor to be ‘essential’ to their career. However, views on how the construction sector performs against this differ: 82% of US corporates believe that their organisation has a positive impact on communities and the environment, but only 52% of students agree that the sector is delivering positive social outcomes.
“The survey results support the mounting concerns over inherent U.S. economic uncertainty, including rising interest rates and inflation, causing disruption within the industry. The gap in new student expectations vs. industry expectations continues to exist. While technology and ESG within the construction industry have come a long way in the last several years, to be successful in attracting new talent to the industry, companies will need to continue their focus on narrowing these gaps. Having said that, I am still bullish on the industry and future prospects here in the United States.”
approach to recruitment, retention and diversity
07 Conclusion
BDO’s message to Gen Z Practical lessons for construction executives Countries in focus
Australia Belgium Brazil Canada Latin America The Netherlands New Zealand Norway South Africa USA 09 About BDO’s research 10 How BDO can help
Gen Z focused on tech roles in the construction industry.
More than two thirds (67%) of US students with an interest in a role in the construction sector are interested in IT and technology roles. More generally, 74% of all student respondents think that the construction sector needs to focus on promoting the new science involved in the sector in order to be fit for the future.
Ian Shapiro Partner; National Real Estate & Construction Practice Co-Leader, BDO in USA
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