Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
Construction & infra needs 60,000 new skilled workers by 2025. But where to find them? Because in addition to more people, the sector needs good professionals who can help build the future of the Netherlands. For this reason the Stimulation Program for the intake and retention of skilled workers was established. Bouwend Nederland, Aannemersfederatie Nederland, Vereniging van Waterbouwers, WoningBouwers Nederland, FNV Bouwen en Wonen and CNV Vakmensen have joined forces. A good initiative that approaches the challenge integrally. The "You're going to make it" campaign is part of this and focuses specifically on young people. A great opportunity for companies in the GWW sector to hitch a ride on this.
Construction & infra: a sector with challenges. Big challenges. Because in an ever busier and more crowded country, it is more difficult to create nice places to live and work for everyone, and to move around as quickly and efficiently as possible. But not only that. Discussions about nitrogen, energy transition and inflation mean that together we have to think differently about how we build: smarter, more sustainable and more future-proof. "Because of these challenges, you see the work in construction changing," explains Francel Vos, Construction & Infra program manager. "Think, for example, of the use of new techniques such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, modular construction, and augmented reality. That makes the work within construction even broader than it already was. There are lots of opportunities for young people but also for lateral entrants. With the incentive program we are responding to that. It focuses on promoting the intake of young workers, retraining and refresher courses for lateral entrants and, for example, promising target groups such as temporary workers and status holders. We do not only look at education. Talent is expressed in so many more ways than just a diploma. Just as important, if not more so, is the experience, knowledge, skills and competencies that someone has. These say a lot about what you can and want. But wanting to develop is at least as important as already being able to do something.
If your route calls for it, we encourage training but you can also learn the intricacies of the trade on the job. In this way, the sector offers opportunities to everyone, whether you are a thinker or a doer."
Work in the sector is still too often associated with negative terms such as tough, dirty and getting up early. Therefore, the challenge was to change the perspective on working in construction and to show, through a diversity of 'old' and new professions, that there are plenty of career opportunities within the sector. With excellent working conditions as well. "To enthuse young people about this, we appeal to them in terms of their interests and hobbies," says Sandra van Heugten, communications advisor Construction & Infra - influx and retention of skilled workers. "In that, there are often already a lot of common ground with working in construction. Because all those skills and interests that you have, you can also perfectly apply in Construction & Infra, whether you can draw well, like gaming or like nothing better than to grow muscles.
We translated these principles into the "You're going to make it" campaign that launched in October 2022 and targets schoolchildren and young adults. To reach them, we deployed TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and Videoland. And with results! Through the various social media we had millions of impressions in a short time with our campaign videos. The online career choice test was also very popular. To get young people excited about construction, it is important to be visible. We especially show how many (development) opportunities the construction industry offers, what craftsmanship is, how proud people are of what they do and why it is so interesting and fun to work in Construction & Infra. Our message is: 'Build the future of the Netherlands and yourself'. We also use videos in which young people themselves talk about their profession and show what great work opportunities there are in construction, from crane operator and foreman to BIM modeler and tiler. A free interactive teaching package has also been developed for secondary schools. Also (apprenticeship) companies can (partly) use this package. In this way, we hope that the campaign will spread like an oil slick, reaching a great many young people."
In addition to recruiting new skilled workers, companies naturally want to retain their good skilled workers. But how do you do that? For this purpose, the Digital Skills Passport (DSP) is under development. This tool offers support and inspiration that allows professionals to work not only on their skills and personal development, but also on their sustainable employability. With the passport, a skilled worker literally visualizes his value for the labor market. By demonstrating the possession of skills with photos and videos, someone collects evidence and thus the building blocks for a certificate or diploma, is the idea. The DSP also offers opportunities for educators. Because the DSP makes it clear how a student is developing and where additional needs lie, educators can provide much better customization.
From the program, webinars and meetings are also regularly organized for companies. Vos: "We are all dealing with a tight labor market. It is therefore important as a company not only to be open to young people, but also to hire lateral entrants. There are a lot of opportunities here. Lateral entrants have already gained a lot of valuable work experience and are highly motivated to make the transition. To support companies in hiring such switchers, we organize meetings and have personal advisors in all regions. These advisors look together with the switcher at which company suits them well. The personal advisors also think along with them about what financial support is available to, for example, do additional training."
Wondering how you as an employer or employee can benefit from the program Construction & Infra, inflow and retention of skilled workers? You can find all the information on buildinfravakkrachten.nl and www.jijgaathetmaken.nl
If you are reading this article and thinking "How do I recruit young people and lateral entrants for my/our company?", the program and campaign offers several possibilities. For example, there is promotional material available through the site of "You're going to make it" that you can use, for example, for advertisements, an open day or a fair. Do you have an enthusiastic young person working in your company? Ask if he or she would like to give a guest lesson at a regional or local college or school using the interactive teaching package. In addition to young people, switchers are also of interest to the business community. Or approach a counselor in your area if you are considering hiring a lateral learner. And if you are not yet a learning company, this also offers interesting opportunities to recruit and retain skilled workers. Learn more about learning company: www.s-bb.nl/bedrijven. Want to know more about the promotional materials, learning package or regional advisors? Visit https://www.jijgaathetmaken.nl/bedrijven.
The Construction & Infra program, influx and retention of skilled workers now consists of four components:
1. Campaign; aimed at positioning the sector and labor market campaigns aimed at different target groups.
(Lateral) entry, ensures that people, from school leavers to lateral entrants, know their way to the position they want.
3. Skills-based labor market, focuses on labor market trends that increasingly see the importance of employee skills rather than diplomas.
4. Training, focuses on providing training so that it better meets the needs of new employees and market demand.
