Skilled Labour Shortage

In today’s economic climate, it has become more difficult than ever to find quality, trustworthy tradesmen. There are numerous reasons for the current and growing shortage of skilled labour.

Some of the most common reasons for this shortage include: large numbers of tradesmen have reached retirement age and are leaving hard-to-fill voids in their respective professions; some tradesmen, tired of the daily grind, have traded in their tools for desk or sales jobs in their respective industries; others, after decades of hard labour, can simply no longer endure the physical aspects of the work. Another factor contributing to these unprecedented labour shortages is that large numbers of young people are no longer entering the skilled trades market, opting instead for post-secondary education opportunites. All of these circumstances are creating gaping voids that cannot be filled.

This unfortunate situation has opened up the door for opportunists and charlatans looking to profit from this shortage. There are record numbers of unqualified contractors selling their services and leaving a huge mess for others to clean up after they either walk off the job (because they are in over their heads) or are dismissed for incompetence. This scenario is becoming far too common as customers struggle to find qualified and reliable tradesmen to complete their projects in a timely and professional manner.

The good news is, there are still some tradesmen that are dedicated professionals; individuals who have mastered their craft and who care deeply about quality and who take a great deal of pride in their work.

The trick is in finding these uncommon professionals!

 

Who to Hire?

How do you find the right contractor and how do you avoid hiring those who are just not up to the task? There are some guidelines and tips you can follow to pre-screen tradesmen whom you are considering.

For projects like plumbing or electrical repairs, installation of trim, doors and finish hardware or any other specialized tasks, we recommend hiring local contractors who specialize in specific skill sets; for example, call a plumber to fix a plumbing issue. When you call to retain services, don’t be afraid to ask questions and if they have experience with your particular scope of work. Try to avoid hiring “handymen” and individuals who proclaim themselves “jacks of all trades”, as they are often masters of none.

It can be reassuring if the contractor has a physical location like a retail store or a showroom and a telephone landline, as these factors typically add some degree of credibility and accountability. An individual who works exclusively out of his vehicle can still be very reliable, but someone without a physical location can literally disappear after the job has been completed and you may have no recourse for warranty issues or sloppy workmanship.

For larger projects like renovations and additions, it is best to find a contractor who has a physical showroom location and/or a well-built website with a wealth of photos and references of his work for your consideration. It is also beneficial to deal with contractors who have a long-standing, good reputation in your community and whose workmanship you can confirm through word of mouth as well as by other means.

It is generally advisable to avoid contractors who have been trained, or who have collected the majority of their experience, in Third World or  less developed European nations. These individuals may not be as familiar as they should be with North American construction methods, quality standards and building codes and their potential lack of knowledge may cause major problems as you try to navigate the project with them.

 

The Reality of the Building Permit and Inspection Process

The construction industry, as a whole, is highly unregulated. A surprisingly large number of individuals who are working in skilled or semi-skilled trades simply lack the knowledge, training or skill to do a proper job. Inspections are not very effective, as most inspections are completed very quickly with little or no attention to detail. The whole building permit and inspection process has evolved into an industry and is mostly about maintaining an infrastructure and generating profits for the local authorities through permit and inspection fees. The inspector’s job is to ensure that only the bare minimum requirements have been met. Don’t rely on a local building inspector to provide quality control services or to check your contractor’s work. Be vigilant and do as much research as you can to fully understand your project and the scope of work involved.

 

Red Flags and Tips

If your carpenter does not own proper tools like a mitre saw, electric plane, router or wood chisels, he’s not a carpenter. Don’t hire him to do carpentry! The same rule applies to other trades. Every tradesman should come fully prepared and equipped to perform his specialty. He should not be making excuses or borrowing tools from you in order to complete the work which you hired him to perform.

Beware of contractors who don’t have a physical location but who ask for large deposits – especially cash – this is a huge red flag!

It is important to be able to communicate with the contractor you hire. Make sure you speak the same language both figuratively and literally. Don’t be afraid to slow things down and ask questions if the conversation is becoming too technical. Ask him to explain things in layman’s terms to help avoid misunderstandings or unrealistic expectations.

Everybody wants their project completed as quickly as possible. Most of the time, contractors will provide a project completion date that is based on every aspect of the job running smoothly and all the pieces fitting perfectly into place. This is not a realistic approach and you should not fall victim to false expectations. Sometimes, contractors will promise a quick completion simply to get the job. Ask your contractor to provide a realistic completion date. You can try to add a performance clause in the contract (which will penalize the contractor for long delays or poor workmanship) but most contractors simply won’t accept such conditions, especially in today’s market.

Always, always, always have a written contract that clearly details the scope of work and that specifically outlines the responsibilities and rights of both parties. Be wary of contractors who try to push you to sign a contract quickly without all the details being discussed or specified.

Avoid paying progress draws too quickly and/or too often. Pace your progress draw payments so they are commensurate with the amount of work that has been completed. If you pay too much, too soon, there is a risk that an unscrupulous contractor will literally take the money and run and leave your job unfinished while he moves on to the next victim and leaves you in a jam. This has been a problem in the construction industry since time immemorial and has exacerbated in recent years. The only way to (hopefully) avoid this type of situation is to screen your contractor carefully and to be very vigilant about how much you pay him and when. Specific payment terms should be outlined in the contract – a draw when stage 1 has been completed, another draw when stage 2 has been completed, and so on. Stick to the payment schedule!

When you meet your potential contractor, pay attention to how he presents and carries himself. Appearance and personal hygiene matter. Your candidate doesn’t need to be a GQ model but anybody who is dressed poorly or inappropriately (i.e.; wearing sandals instead of proper footwear), who smells of liquor, narcotics or who is very unkempt, is likely not going to do a good job. Similarly, if he drives an old, rusted out station wagon or van, this might be an indication that he is either not very busy, not very successful or simply does not care about how he presents himself and his company. Additionally, you need to determine if he seems to know what he is talking about. Does he answer your questions or does he try to avoid them? Is he certain and confident with regards to completing the work and the steps involved in achieving a quality finished product? Weigh all these factors into your decision making process.

Beware of contractors who offer to cut corners to bring down the cost of the project. You might save a few dollars today but you will pay ten-fold tomorrow! One fence contractor in our area habitually sets fence posts at a 36” depth, a full 12” above the frost line! He does this to reduce his labour time, use less concrete and, of course, to save money. All he is doing is making a few extra dollars at the customer’s expense and jeopardizing the quality and longevity of the finished product. These types of contractors are in it for the short term – they want to work for a few years, make as much money as they can and move on to something else. They definitely won’t be there to honour the “5 year warranty” they advertised!

When undertaking larger projects, ask your contractor for proof of liability insurance and also for proof of a WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Board) account. If there is an injury on your property during the course of the project, it could cause legal issues for you if your contractor is not properly insured. Don’t be afraid to ask for a WSIB Clearance Certificate before you pay the final balance owing.

The opinions presented herein are a general guideline based on our senior staff members’ experiences as professional locksmiths and trim carpenters who specialized in commercial steel and wood door, finish hardware, trim and millwork installations for over 80 years, collectively. There is no substitute for common sense, good judgement and intuition. No libel or disrespect against any specific groups or individuals is intended. Other opinions may differ and may also be worthy of consideration.