Shipyard Staffing: Balancing Supply and Demand

The economy is still recovering from the effects of the coronavirus. Several companies had their teams under a freeze-hire order, unwilling to take on new employees. That’s not surprising. Companies were unsure of what the world would be like after the pandemic. These days, though, many organizations are getting back on their feet. Industries are now on a fast track to deal with the national labor shortage resulting from the coronavirus. But they now face another problem: the labor shortage. That shortage has impacted labor markets across all industries. If you’re in the same boat, here’s how you can deal with the shortage, too.

Hiring on the Rise

Shipyard staffing across the United States is on the rise. But not many qualified workers are available to fill in the jobs. Some shipyards are hiring about 300 workers every day, double the number they hired a year ago. Complaints about the quality of the talent pool is making it difficult for companies to achieve their hiring goals. For many of these organizations, it’s a case of “good people are hard to find.”

The Challenges

Shipyard talents make up an aging population. That’s another reason for the shortage of qualified candidates. Also, people are not as willing to travel cross country for work. Companies are finding it hard to locate craftsmen with the skills and willingness to travel for their jobs. With fewer applicants willing to move for their next assignment, maritime companies are finding themselves in a pinch. It’s also been harder to retain top talent. Shipyards also have a reputation for being an unsafe job environment, which is also discouraging people from giving it a try.

The Staffing Issue

Many of the jobs in demand involve refit and repair work. That keeps shipyards busy. There’s also a lot of pent-up demand compared with the demand during the pandemic. With the economy on the move again, there are plenty of new orders for newbuilds every day, requiring more hands to take care of them. To address the vacuum for higher-level craftsmen, many shipyards plan to partner with clients to create apprentice opportunities and programs. That’s where they hope they can train or retrain workers. It’s part of their future business plan to increase the number of qualified workers in shipyards.

Another Option

For smaller yards, another and more viable option is to reach out to recruitment agencies. A company struggling to fulfill hiring standards can secure the assistance of recruiting specialists in the maritime industry. That’s a necessary step in the right direction. Big companies with deeper pockets can also give that option a try. A recruitment team can help them generate a list of potential candidates, aid them in finding top-level talent, and fulfilling their hiring quotas.

Choosing a Recruitment Agency

Not every recruitment agency will fit the bill. But it’s essential that companies go over the client of the agency. What kind of industries does the company serve? Having years of experience is not enough. Finding an agency specializing in recruiting assets in their industries will ensure the best results. That’s how companies can address shortages and demand in the labor market.