At iTalent we advise, follow and recruit for the construction industry here within the Middle East, not only in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but in Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. So if you are looking for exceptional talent to join your construction form, please reach out to us at the end of this article and we will be happy to help.
For years, industry leaders have been proclaiming a serious issue in the construction industry: a construction skills shortage and one question is being repeated over and over again: where will we find the skilled workforce to complete huge construction tasks?
The ongoing construction worker skills shortage
The Middle East construction skills shortage is well documented and yet it shows little sign of abating. Over 20% of businesses have severe difficulty in recruiting construction and building trade supervisors and over 15% have severe difficulty in recruiting quantity surveyors, project managers and related professionals.
The Middle East construction skills shortage seems to be multi-faceted and complex but there are clear risk areas that are driving some of the problems. At iTalent we believe an effective way to foster a new generation of skilled Middle Eastern Construction workers would be to develop more responsive workforce development programmes in-house and on-site.
Information Technology Skills for Construction Workers
Amongst these new qualifications that construction workers can gain, one of the first to be launched is the Building Services Engineering for Construction course. A notable inclusion in this construction skills training qualification is the focus on information technology and its use within the industry. Core models included are:
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Call us on: +971 (0)4 421 3490 or Email us at: info@italent-me.com or complete the Contact us form.- Data management and information standards in construction.
- How the Internet of Things (IoT) impacts construction.
- Digital engineering techniques.
The prioritisation of the Building Services Engineering for Construction is a welcome change in this industry where there have been delays in the roll-out of other technology-focused training, including BIM technical training.
BIM Driving IT Skills in Construction
BIM level 2 technology became mandatory for Government projects in the Middle East and this change brought many benefits. Through widespread adoption, BIM is saving time and money on construction sites from the UAE to Saudi Arabia. In fact, a recent report stated that the GCC Governments saved between two to three per cent on whole life expenditure for construction that followed BIM processes.
BIM certainly is not the only technology with the power to transform the construction site. Many innovative technologies exist with the ability to solve the serious issues facing the industry. Virtual and augmented reality, drone technology, project management tools and digital documentation software are all gaining traction on the construction site and with management and support teams in the office.
So, how important are IT skills in construction and how formal should training be?
At iTalent welcomed the approach taken in the CITB’s report on Unlocking Construction’s Digital Future where the focus was placed firmly on the softer skills that are important in evaluating and choosing digital technology. The Middle East construction industry needs to know how to use technology but, more importantly, when and when not to use it.
Technology is a fast-evolving and ever-changing space. Formal education on particular technologies often becomes out-of-date as soon as the course is over. However, it’s critical to teach the softer skills needed to evaluate technology and embed it within an organisation. Skills such as creativity, problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork are especially important.
For digital technology to be effective, it must be embedded within an organisation. It must also help the business to solve key problems. Technology that cannot meet these criteria will detract from the business goals and potentially create more issues than it solves.
The first thing to make clear is that technology is just another tool in the construction toolbox. As with any tool, its purpose is to make a job easier. Complicated interfaces and software that requires in house experts and huge structural changes struggle to become embedded in day-to-day operations.
Yes, construction companies need the right people with the right skills to evaluate technology and choose the right software to meet their needs and goals. However, in-depth IT skills should not be a requirement for operating the systems used for day-to-day tasks on site.
Software should be easily accessible and simple to use, only then will it be adopted and championed by teams. Only then will middle Eastern construction businesses achieve a return on investment.
Discover more about iTalent and our recruitment offerings for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and broader Middle Eastern markets.
italent was founded in 2012 in the United Arab Emirates born in a challenging market, one key reason for our success is we have unparalleled commitment and determination to deliver the highest levels of recruitment and executive search.
These fundamentals allowed us to build a reputation and gain the trust and respect of some of the biggest clients and most Senior candidates in the Region. Our team is all seasoned professionals, and with over 100 years of recruitment experience in our office, we are a key part of our clients’ Talent Acquisition Strategies.
You can contact us by using our contact form or call us on +971 (0)4 421 3490 or email us at info@italent-me.com and we will be happy to help.
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