Floorcovering Industry Heightens Response to Skilled Labor Crisis

Written by INSTALL / May 29, 2019

*INSTALL was an editorial contributor to this article, which originally appeared in the June edition of Floor Covering Weekly.

Continued shortage in labor causes concern

The ongoing labor shortage in the flooring industry is taking its toll and shows no signs of abating. With a strong economy rolls along and low unemployment leading to an already short supply of installers, it’s becoming increasingly hard to attract people to the field.

“We expect the installation labor shortage to continue to be a challenge for the industry in the year ahead,” said Tim Baucom, executive vice president, residential division, for Shaw floors.

“With the expanding economy, available skilled labor pools are shrinking at a rapid rate,” said Dan Liles, instructor with Porcelain Panel Services. “This will continue with growth and a strong economy.” He added that another contributing factor to the shortage is young workers who leave school are often steered to technology industries for jobs.

“The labor shortage continues to be a critical issue for contractors and the wider construction community,” said John McGrath, executive director for INSTALL, the International Standards & Training Alliance of Floorcovering Professionals.

Indeed, not making installing a viable career option early on has exacerbated the problem, said Scott Humphrey, chief executive officer of the World Floor Covering Association. “As a country we have done a great injustice in attempting to force all high school graduates to attend college. Without meaning to, we have made those who chose to pursue a trade feel like second class citizens. The last statistic I heard is that 70 percent of all college graduates work outside of their major,” so some of these people could and should be swayed into the installation field.

“A key reason why people leave floorcovering is because there is not a clear sense of how to climb the ladder,” agreed McGrath.

While the issue is continuing to impact the industry, Humphrey sees some bright spots — notably that the industry as a whole has recognized the problem and is taking steps to address it. “Just two years ago, some in the industry did not consider the shortage of qualified labor a ‘crisis.’ That has changed.” He pointed to discussions in the Floor Covering Leadership Council, associations, manufacturers, distributors and other groups about the necessity of solving this issue quickly. But “with that said, the problem itself has gotten worse, as unemployment is at historical lows, thus limiting the pool we are attempting to attract to the industry.”

“If INSTALL had to pick one word to describe how to tackle the labor shortage, it would be ‘collaboration,’ ” McGrath said. “Labor and management working together is the only reliable and sustainable formula to address the industry’s need.”

Given the realities of the situation, the flooring industry must work to find some immediate as well as long-term solutions to the labor shortage — and if it’s not addressed quickly and decisively, the opportunity may be lost forever, warns Humphrey.

“If the industry does not band together to address this crisis, the consequences will be catastrophic,” Humphrey said. “At the WFCA, we have been seeking to inform the industry of the current and pending crisis for years. We are now at a pivotal point that will determine the future of our industry and its labor pool component. Failure to address the crisis will transform the roll of the professional flooring dealer for years to come. The first thing that has to be done is combining our voices and efforts to address the issue. It will take a unified effort to overcome our current labor deficit.”

INSTALL's latest article features insights from industry insiders on combating the skilled labor crisis.With low unemployment, that is no easy feat but needs to be addressed head-on and early on. “Unemployment in the construction sector is among the lowest in the country; that means that we are all after the same pool of laborers,” Humphrey said. “Unfortunately, as an industry, we have done a very poor job of creating an appealing story for why installation is a viable career option. We need an industry-wide campaign to appeal to potential craftsmen and women starting in middle and high schools.”

Indeed, training and development efforts are a must, said Shaw’s Baucom. He noted that the company has partnered with Goodwill of North Georgia, Chattahoochee Technical College, the International Certified Flooring Installers Association and the Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring and Fuse Alliance to help develop professional and skilled craftsmen.

“Simultaneously, we continue to introduce products that are easy to install for both professional and the DIY market,” he said, noting that several of the company’s products don’t require a professional installer. Still, “we must continue to provide training and educational resources, supporting those programs that develop a future workforce. Craftsmanship can take years to perfect, so this is a long-term investment.”

Liles agreed the industry must continue to invest in training and recruitment. “We need to invest in education for the skills required. Companies can hire unskilled ‘qualified’ people and create in-house training and educational programs as well as invest in the industry’s existing educational programs. In addition, companies should use experienced, skilled employees and other methods to recruit people at a young age and create a program that rewards them for their educational progress.”

Liles specifically recruits and trains people how to handle, fabricate and install large porcelain panels and has followed this situation closely. “I have seen these labor trends in the past and luckily have learned from them. Before moving to consultation full time, our company had developed some time ago, an in-house recruitment and training/education program that has done very well. At the time of my departure, over 85 percent of our work force were long tenured,” with experience ranging from five to 23 years.

WFCA’s Certified Flooring Installers Division has multiple schools across the United States for training and attend multiple job and educational fairs to promote the career. The WFCA also works with other associations to work on the crisis to both validate the issue and come up with viable solutions. “Working together with others in the industry to solve this crisis is the only long-term solution.”

INSTALL has worked with everyone from unions to other organizations to promote training and the industry as a viable career path, from installation to professional development. “Helmets To Hardhats, Sisters in the Brotherhood, Career Connections, Shades of the Brotherhood, First Nation Outreach are all new and enhanced outreach programs developed to expand and diversify our membership,” McGrath said. “Our apprenticeship and career-long training scope continually evolves and expands to cover all possible installation skill sets. Foreman, superintendent, mentoring and collaborative leadership courses are delivered to develop next generation leadership.

Technology is a useful tool to address the issue. “We have invested in new technology to ease the burden of our existing labor pool,” Humphrey added. “We realize success in solving this crisis will have to be multi-faceted.”

Still, technology alone can’t solve the issue. “Although technology has greatly enhanced the flooring industry on the installation side, it is far from relieving humans from the skilled labor portion,” Liles said.

The alarm bells have been rung, however, and the industry recognizes things must change, and change quickly. “If we keep doing what we have always done, we will continue to get what we have always gotten,” Humphrey said.

Driver shortage stresses industry

The labor shortage extends throughout the supply chain and, today, there is a noticeable shortage of freight and delivery drivers. Couple that challenge with rising fuel costs, increased regulations and changing demographics, and the picture for drivers is stark.

“In speaking with colleagues, the driver shortage remains the number one issue facing distributors today,” said Keith Rogers, vice president of operations at Swiff-Train. He noted demographics are one of the main reasons the industry is having issues finding drivers. “Trucking does and has always relied on older male drivers. There are few drivers in the workforce coming from the younger, male demographic. Also, there are only a few women in the trucking workforce.”

Floor Covering Weekly features INSTALL article on combating the skilled labor crisisGeography and fracking are also impacting the driver segment, particularly as liability and regulation costs impact profits, shared Greg Laminack, vice president of transportation for Xpress Global Systems. He said the Northeast, Dakotas and West Texas have been the most affected areas. In addition, he noted that when the industry was mandated to adapt electronic logs, some drivers declined to invest.

Of course, the most significant issue — and the obvious solution — is the cost and pay of the industry, as well as ensuring quality-of-life benefits and other intangibles. “By ensuring we provide quality equipment, effective scheduling with home-time balance and competitive compensation, we aim to empower and transfer that leadership into the field,” said Scott Sandlin, senior vice president of sales for Shaw Floors.

Salaries have continued to rise out of necessity. “Pay rates have been the largest challenge over the last five years,” Laminack said. “We have had to increase wages to become more competitive.”

Derek Bartley, vice president of process improvement for XGS added that enhancing the experience and providing other incentives also has helped with retention. “XGS has placed a heavy emphasis on driver retention by creating a better driver experience through equipment upgrades and technology. In addition, we are developing programs internally to provide our team members opportunities to grow within. A stronger driver retention plan allows us to maintain the needed labor force to not only meet, but to exceed customer expectations.”

Agreed Rogers, “It is has become necessary to increase driver wages coupled with a more comprehensive benefits package. One perceived advantage as a regional distributor is the ability to offer decreased time on the road. Reducing the length of haul is more appealing to the driver workforce now.”

*INSTALL was an editorial contributor to this article, which originally appeared in the June edition of Floor Covering Weekly.

Explore More News from INSTALL

INSTALL Specification Resource for Floorcovering Installations

Read Article

Infection Prevention: Your Mission, Our Expertise

Read Article

INSTALL Connects the Best in the Flooring Industry

Read Article

Flooring Olympics Celebrates Skills & Positive Industry Outlook

Read Article

Subfloor Preparation Certification: What Installers Need to Know

Read Article

Alternative Career Pathways & Succession for Flooring Installers

Read Article

Avoid Costly Missteps in Subfloor Prep, Three Factors to Assess

Read Article

With Certification, the Floor is Yours

Read Article

How Education Can Help Recruit the Next Generation of Installers

Read Article

Engaging the Next Generation of Floorcovering Installers

Read Article

INSTALL Sponsors New Accredited Webinar With Architectural Record

Read Article

Partner News: December 2023

Read Article

How to Overcome the Challenges of Retaining Flooring Installers

Read Article

Building a Successful Business Through Effective Communication

Read Article

INSTALL Announces 2023 Drywall & Flooring Olympics Winners

Read Article

Partner News: October 2023

Read Article

INSTALL Joins Floor Trends Magazine's TalkFloor Podcast

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2023

Read Article

Healthcare Certifications Are More Important Than Ever

Read Article

INSTALL Introduces New Executive Director David Gross

Read Article

The Retirement of INSTALL Executive Director John T. McGrath, Jr.

Read Article

How Installers Help Healthcare Facilities Prevent Costly Rework

Read Article

Why Proper Floor Covering Installation Training Is Vital

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: December 2022

Read Article

Top-Notch Floor Covering Training Adds Long-Term Value

Read Article

Tips to Solve Common LVT & LVP Installation Issues

Read Article

Proper Training Can Help Avoid Safety Risks for Occupants

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: August 2022

Read Article

New Resilient Flooring And Carpet Certification Standards

Read Article

INSTALL Announces New Alliance Partners

Read Article

INSTALL's Course Offerings Expand With Hardwood Flooring Training

Read Article

Training and Trust Help Flooring Installers Grow in New Markets

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2022

Read Article

INSTALL Expands Apprenticeship Program to Support Industry Growth

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2022

Read Article

Importance of Specifying UBC-ICRA Protocols in a Covid-19 World

Read Article

Understanding Flooring Moisture Mitigation

Read Article

Keeping INSTALL Inclusive

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: December 2021

Read Article

INSTALL and Teknoflor Join Efforts to Ensure Quality Installation

Read Article

M. Frank Higgins Introduced as Latest INSTALL Warranty Contractor

Read Article

INSTALL & Tarkett Partnership to Elevate Installation Standards

Read Article

INSTALL and H2H Help Veterans Transition to Civilian Life

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: November 2021

Read Article

XL North Interview With INSTALL's John T. McGrath, Jr.

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2021

Read Article

How to Keep the Jobsite Safe amid COVID-19

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2021

Read Article

Smith Flooring Inc. Selected as First Stop on Presidential Tour

Read Article

INSTALL & FCICA Work to Elevate Flooring Installation Standards

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2021

Read Article

The Formula to Protecting Occupied Healthcare Facilities

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: December 2020

Read Article

INSTALL Inducts Five New Members to its Floorcovering Alliance

Read Article

Not a Flooring Fad: Polished Concrete & Pourable Wear Toppings

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: October 2020

Read Article

Five Best Practices for Specifying Flooring in a COVID-19 World

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2020

Read Article

Polished Concrete Sets Foundation in Flooring

Read Article

Ensuring Employee Safety on the Jobsite During COVID-19

Read Article

M. Frank Higgins & Co., Inc. Hosts ICRA Training Program

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2020

Read Article

Women Flooring Installers Help Solve the Labor Crisis

Read Article

Three Reasons to Hire Certified Floorcovering Installers

Read Article

Addressing the Deadly Threat of Silica

Read Article

INSTALL Welcomes New Members to Expansive Floorcovering Network

Read Article

Watch: Installers Lay Groundwork for Polished Concrete Flooring

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2020

Read Article

The Impact of Technology on the Flooring Installation Industry

Read Article

INSTALL to Present at World of Concrete 2020 and DOMOTEX USA 2020

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: November 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Showcases ICRA Standards at 2019 APIC Expo

Read Article

Innovations that are Changing the Floorcovering Industry

Read Article

Image Flooring Partners with INSTALL to Expand

Read Article

INSTALL Continues Support for Helmets to Hardhats Partnership

Read Article

Polish Your Skills: The Latest in Concrete Polishing

Read Article

How to Increase Professionalism in Installation

Read Article

Four Ways to Become More Efficient on the Jobsite

Read Article

INSTALL Members Donate Time and Skills for Charity

Read Article

Putting Concrete Polishing Education Front and Center

Read Article

Meeting Infection Control Protocols in Healthcare Designs

Read Article

UBC Announces Leadership Changes, Reaffirms Commitment to INSTALL

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2019

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: July 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Continues Increasing Availability of Formal Training

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: June 2019

Read Article

Floorcovering Industry Heightens Response to Skilled Labor Crisis

Read Article

Expansion Program Helps Image Flooring Grow throughout Midwest

Read Article

INSTALL Expands Partnership with Department of Veterans Affairs

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: May 2019

Read Article

ARDEX Americas supports INSTALL with Polished Toppings Training

Read Article

INSTALL Puts Finishing Touches on Concrete Polishing Curriculum

Read Article

Floorcovering's Commitment to Saving Lives in Healthcare

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: April 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: April 2019

Read Article

The Rise of Concrete Polishing

Read Article

INSTALL to Present New ICRA CEU at 2019 AEC BuildTech Conference

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: March 2019

Read Article

INSTALL Introduces New Warranty Contractor and Alliance Partners

Read Article

Ambassador Floor Lends Efforts to Combat the Skilled Labor Crisis

Read Article

Alliance Partner News: February 2019

Read Article

Four Ways to Become a Better Installer

Read Article

Reviving the Skilled Labor Pipeline in the Floorcovering Industry

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: January 2019

Read Article

Engaging in a "People First" Model for Employee Retention

Read Article

2018 INSTALL Milestones: Flooring Trade Update

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: October 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Supports Veterans through Career Placement Program

Read Article

Earn CEU credits with INSTALL's new curriculum

Read Article

Don’t fear the future of the floor covering industry

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Penny Czarra

Read Article

INSTALL Conference brings collaboration to meet industry demands

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Frank Koch

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Expansion Initiative Steadily Progresses

Read Article

INSTALL & Roppe Partner at NeoCon 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Mike Maguire

Read Article

Announcing new Alliance Partners and INSTALL Warranty Contractors

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Del Church

Read Article

New Texas Training Center celebrates grand opening

Read Article

Sisters in the Brotherhood Participate in New INSTALL Training

Read Article

Tarkett & INSTALL partner to create integrated education program

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Andy Bowman

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: February 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Richard Schmidt

Read Article

Reduce Maintenance Costs with Polished Concrete Flooring

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: January 2018

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: James Colombo

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: December 2017

Read Article

Master Craft Flooring Wins 2017 FCI Installation Award

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: November 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Opens Enrollment for CIM Program Scholarship

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Michael Bonacci

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Adam Williams

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: October 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Sees Continued Growth in Southern U.S.

Read Article

INSTALL Announces Canadian NAC Winner

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Kelly Bakke

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: September 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Jeff Johnson

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: August 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Combats Labor Shortage through Industry Partnerships

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: David Altman

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Jeff Moore

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: June 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Dan Solomon

Read Article

INSTALL & Partners to Host ICRA Training

Read Article

INSTALL & Roppe Partner at NeoCon 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: May 2017

Read Article

INSTALL & H2H Partnership Reaches First Year Milestone

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Ron Zimmerman

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: April 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Jim Wilkinson

Read Article

Laticrete Joins Endorsement of Substrate Prep Certification

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: March 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Included in Master Spec, Provides VA with Peace of Mind

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Heather Rice

Read Article

Why Moisture Testing is a Step that Can’t be Ignored

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: February 2017

Read Article

INSTALL Insights: Resilients

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Tom Sheridan

Read Article

Industry Leaders Endorse the INSTALL Substrate Prep Certification

Read Article

Flooring System Success: Get it Right from the Ground Up

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: January 2017

Read Article

INSTALL's Certified Installation Manager Scholarship Winner

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Tom Lutz

Read Article

INSTALL Takes on Installation’s Challenges

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: December 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Brian Redshaw

Read Article

INSTALL & H2H Bring Veterans to the Flooring Industry

Read Article

INSTALL Insights: Selecting the Right Contractor

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Garrett Maki

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: October 2016

Read Article

Canadian National Apprenticeship Contest

Read Article

INSTALL Launches Substrate Certification Program

Read Article

INSTALL combats skilled labor crisis with training

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Kirk Kazienko

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: September 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Laura Graham-Sawchyn

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: August 2016

Read Article

UBC Southern Council Collective Bargaining Agreement

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Bryan Kear

Read Article

This Month at INSTALL: July 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: July 2016

Read Article

Consolidated Carpet Supports St. Francis Pantries & Shelters

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Barb Kidwell

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: June 2016

Read Article

VA Taps INSTALL for Master Construction Specification

Read Article

INSTALL Recap: NeoCon 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: Eric Kastner

Read Article

INSTALL Partners with BHI for Haiti Build

Read Article

INSTALL Launches Surface Prep Certification

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: May 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Regional Council News: April 2016

Read Article

INSTALL Profile: David Gross

Read Article

2016 Starnet Design Awards

Read Article

INSTALL Expands Training in Central South Market

Read Article

INSTALL Director's Report: April 2016

Read Article

Substrate and Subfloor Installations for High-Quality Flooring

Read Article

VIDEO: The INSTALL Expansion Partnership Program

Read Article

VIDEO: The INSTALL Advantage

Read Article