2023 has been a year of many disruptions and it’s impacted construction and infrastructure sectors in multiple ways. The one thing that has remained a constant though, is the skills gap.

Companies continue to struggle to acquire top talent for multiple reasons. Sometimes they don’t have the budget, sometimes they aren’t willing to offer flexible working. But mostly there simply isn’t enough expertise to fill the gaps.

With this is mind, we discuss how companies will be looking to solve this in 2024 and what skills will be most sought after.

Technology

Generative AI has been the talk of 2023 and it’s use cases continue to expand. Many existing applications have started integrating AI tools into their technologies. The goal is to help employees become more efficient and productive.

But using these tools is not intuitive to everyone. Senior employees especially may get frustrated that the technologies are not assisting them the way they feel that they should. What companies need are people that can bridge the gap. Professionals that understand the industry, where the challenges lie, and how technology can help solve them.

Sustainability

With climate events increasing in frequency and ferocity, awareness is growing that companies have a responsibility to mitigate the effects. The reality is that fixing the damage is costing money that nobody has to spare and it’s placing a strain on the economy. Yet many companies don’t understand what’s needed, what to focus on and how to implement policies effectively.

Recent research indicates that net-zero efforts won’t be enough. Companies now need to focus on regeneration instead. In order to drive this, they will need professionals that understand the concepts of a circular economy and the value of biodiversity as well as what technologies are available to help them measure and manage efforts.

Human skills

Multiple factors are contributing to increased stress for employees. This can have a negative impact for companies on productivity. People who can engage with co-workers on all levels, operate with empathy, and have critical thinking and problem-solving skills will be those able to make the most impact.

Employee well-being is critical to retention. Leaders that can help create a positive and productive working environment will help companies perform better. Soft skills and the ability to identify what people need will enable teams work more effectively. In this mastering human skills is hugely valuable.