Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late: 5 Signs You Need To Hire More Skilled Labor

Have you ever found yourself short on skilled labor mid-project? Or had to pass on a lucrative opportunity because your team was stretched too thin? By the time you’re considering these questions, it’s too late. Hiring skilled labor can be time-consuming, costly, and especially hard to do mid-project. Let’s explore some ways to prepare yourself with skilled labor before feeling the strain.

1. You’re struggling to manage multiple projects.

If you know that a certain few months will be project-heavy compared to your normal workload, hiring before the projects begin is the smart decision. Spreading your existing teams thin and “seeing if it works” will not end in your favor, and we’ll continue to explore why. What if a project arises during a busy period that you really want to take, whether it be because it is good business or because it will put your company on the map? Having the skilled labor available without stretching your existing teams too thin will benefit your business in the long run. You also want to possess skilled labor with the skills or expertise necessary to complete the projects that you take on.

2. You’re experiencing frequent delays.

If you’re consistently experiencing delays or high rates of re-work needed on your projects, it might be a sign that you need to hire. Both delays and re-work cost more money than hiring itself does. While delays are common due to unforeseen challenges, lacking the skilled labor to handle these can cause even more costly setbacks. Re-work has to be done when something isn’t done right the first time. Whether it’s because the people you have don’t possess the skills needed to complete part of a project, or because your workforce is tired and stretched too thin, re-work is costly and can be avoided simply through hiring. 

3. You’re hearing a lot of client complaints.

Once clients start noticing issues like delays and re-work, your business could see some bigger negative issues than simply cost. Word-of-mouth is one of the biggest sources of recommendation in any industry, and if your clients are seeing issues with your work, they won’t hesitate to convey that to other potential clients. Not only is it unpleasant to get complaints from clients, but if it’s happening consistently, it will likely impact your entire business operation. Avoiding delays and high rates of re-work through hiring the needed skilled labor will help your business in the long run. 

4. You have a high turnover rate.

If your turnover rate is higher than usual, it might be time to hire more skilled labor. Employees who are overworked or who don’t have a good work/life balance are more likely to find employment elsewhere, resulting in a high turnover rate. Workers leaving because of workload or because of lack of support means that you need to hire. A high turnover rate can also cause issues like a greater amount of re-work on projects because of a lack of expertise and experience with your company practices. 

5. You are unable to stay competitive in the industry.

If you are unable to stay in competition with similar businesses in your industry due to a lack of manpower, it is likely time to hire. This might take the form of not being able to take on the projects you want to, or not being able to take on bigger projects because you don’t have the skilled labor to complete them in an efficient or timely manner with the necessary expertise. Or, if other clients have complaints because of issues such as delays and re-work, your company could take a hit in word-of-mouth recommendations or reviews causing a lack of incoming projects.