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Home Innovation Insights

Every unmet industry need creates an opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers in that segment.

Be the Solution: New Product Strategies for Current Construction Labor Shortage

January 12, 2018
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It’s no secret that there is a labor shortage in construction. Many talented workers left the industry when the housing industry crashed in the mid-2000’s and never returned. Now the industry is rebounding faster than the labor markets can supply new skilled and unskilled workers, thus limiting the pace of the rebound. An active hurricane season in the Gulf states, and extensive wildfires (and subsequent flooding) in the West have added to the burden.

Percent of Builders Reporting Labor Shortages

Source: NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index Survey

But every unmet building industry need creates an opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers in that segment of the industry. Over the past several years, Home Innovation Research Labs has conducted dozens of studies on new labor-saving materials, tools, equipment, and installation techniques. As a result, we’ve gained a great deal of insight into the dynamics of saving installation time. With each new exploration, there are always opportunities that reveal themselves.

Below are some recent insights we’ve gleaned for manufacturers on how to tap into the needs that have arisen during the labor shortage:

These are just a few of the ideas that have come out of recent research efforts. Are these applicable for your product or product category? I’ll be sharing more ideas like these in the coming weeks. If you’d like to discuss these or how we can help you develop a custom path to “be the solution,” let me know.

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Comments

Blair Gilbert
January 12, 2018 3:55 PM

"I remain puzzled about why the industry continues in the same, age old, paradigms as it relates to construction. You mention "factory" manufacturing which has so many benefits ... far too many to mention but alas ... it doesn't happen. And to take it a step further, continuing to use wood which creates more landfill than it does finished homes. I humbly submit that until there's a total mind shift the challenges you note will not go away."