With the construction industry dealing with unprecedented shortages in labor, HR professionals are facing an uphill battle. The good news is that an all-in-one learning solution like Bridge LMS can close skills gaps faster than you might have thought possible.
Read on to see how Bridge can help you upskill your construction workforce quickly, so you can take control and help your organization overcome labor shortages.
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The Impact of Labor Shortages on Construction Projects
A survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America (ACG) shows that up to 78% of construction organizations are struggling to fill some or all positions in 2025. 59% also state that they have an insufficient supply of workers or subcontractors. UK-based firms are facing an uphill battle as well. The sluggish labor market presents a major challenge for many organizations, especially in light of the government’s ambitious housing targets.
The shrinking workforce can cause a host of problems that you’ll be all too familiar with. Labor shortages can drive up wages, negatively impacting your budget or bottom line. They can cause project delays and harm your relationship with customers. They may even incentivize managers to put undue pressure on existing crews, which can lead to a negative perception of your organization’s culture and cause attrition.
The ACG survey mentioned above reveals that a shrinking workforce can also impact staff wellbeing: 75% of construction employers identify ‘inexperienced skilled labor/workforce shortages’ as a threat to their workers’ health and safety.
It is not all doom and gloom though—forward-thinking HR professionals worldwide are realizing that taking training into their own hands can help create the talent their organizations need.
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Using Bridge to Quickly Address Construction Crew Skill Gaps
With the right training strategy in place, you can take the labor shortage by the horns. While you may still prioritize seasoned professionals for certain roles, Bridge makes it easy to train less experienced recruits and close skills gaps in double time.
Employees can:
- Take advantage of top-quality training modules that cover a range of construction topics
- Learn anytime, anywhere on a user-friendly mobile learning app that’s available in 20 languages
- Keep their learning on track with push notifications reminding them to complete courses
- Become risk-reduction pros in no time with easily integrated courses from trusted content providers, OpenSesame
Behind the scenes, managers can easily track progress. Bridge’s reporting and analytic features make it easy to see when learners completed their courses and also reveal insights into how they performed. This is especially valuable for managers who want to give a bit of extra attention and support to industry newcomers and ensure they thrive within their organization.
Apart from supporting direct hires, Bridge will also help you empower contract learners and can even support apprenticeships or mentorship programs. Bridge makes it easy to train anyone outside of your organization, without any compromise on functionality or user experience for learners or admins. This can empower your organization to build relationships with the younger talent pool in your wider community.
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Boost Retention in Your Construction Organization With Workplace Learning
You know that overcoming labor shortages is not just a matter of recruiting new workers—doing everything you can to avoid attrition is absolutely crucial as well.
Creating a culture of learning can be very impactful. According to LinkedIn's 2025 Workplace Learning Report, 84% of employees say that “learning adds purpose to my work.” A sense of purpose can be a powerful motivator to stay with a company. Helping your crews keep their skills sharp can help them feel valued and appreciated.
Bridge makes it easy to build a culture of learning with development journeys that give both managers and workers a clear pathway toward success.
Our skills development plans give employees a blueprint to identify the skills needed to excel in construction. Employees can select three skills they want to build at a time—so they’re able to focus on steady, attainable progress. Bridge then shows them relevant courses that will get them to where they need to be. One-click enrollment ensures they get off to an easy start, while due dates and notifications keep learning on track.
Want to make sure your hardworking crews are happy with their learning and with your company culture? Bridge can also help you collect employee feedback. Host engagement surveys on an intuitive platform that couldn't be easier to use. You can write your own survey questions or choose from our pre-written options to help you understand how workers feel about your organization.
Machine learning empowers you to work through survey responses quickly, highlighting concerns or identifying emerging themes. These kinds of insights can help you get ahead of any potential problem areas, so you avoid losing a valued worker. If you want, you can even integrate Bridge with your HRIS in just a few clicks, keeping your workforce-planning data organized and accessible in one place.
Ready to Start?
With help from Bridge, you can overcome the challenges the depleted labor market presents. Take advantage of training that helps you attract talent and upskill new workers quickly, all while keeping your existing crew satisfied and engaged.
We’d be happy to set up a custom demo with one of our experts to show you just how transformative the right LMS can be during this crucial time in the construction industry.
Get in touch with us today.
