Construction contractors facing labor constraints are increasingly evaluating how existing craft capacity can be used more effectively. New national research provides field data on the relationship between multiskilling and jobsite performance, including productivity, staffing levels and schedule duration.
The study, conducted by the Simplar Foundation in partnership with researchers from three universities, examines active construction projects and represents a large national dataset focused specifically on multiskilling.
The approach involves training craft professionals to obtain credentials in multiple tasks or trades. Rather than limiting workers to a single capability, contractors can deploy qualified personnel across different activities as project needs change.
The research found that multiskilling increased the portion of crew time devoted to directly advancing construction work by 39%. It also reduced idle and waiting time by 68%, indicating potential benefits for contractors managing tight schedules and fluctuating workforce requirements.
Beyond productivity, the findings point to potential advantages in how crews are organized. Deploying fewer workers or crews within constrained work areas can reduce congestion and coordination demands, which may also support safer site operations.
For contractors, the value of multiskilling depends on more than training workers. The research emphasizes the importance of verifying capabilities and maintaining records showing which skills a worker has demonstrated and where those skills can be used.
That creates a workforce capability system in which training can translate into usable jobsite capacity rather than simply adding credentials to an employee's record.
The model also can expand career opportunities for craft professionals by providing additional pathways to assignments, longer project involvement, increased earning potential and advancement into leadership roles.
The findings give contractors another potential tool for addressing workforce shortages while improving utilization of crews already assigned to projects. Better deployment of qualified workers can help reduce waiting time, improve workflow continuity and limit congestion in constrained areas.
For construction owners and developers, more flexible workforce deployment could support schedule reliability and project execution, particularly on complex projects where multiple trades must coordinate in limited spaces.
The research also underscores the importance of treating workforce development as an operational strategy. For contractors, documenting and verifying individual capabilities can help connect training investments with measurable productivity and staffing outcomes.
Source: ABC Organization.
