Construction Careers The Q&A

With Michael Gilmore, Head of Talent at
JJ Rhatigan & Company

Current recruitment landscape?

The construction industry as a whole is facing significant challenges in talent acquisition and retention, this is not just an Irish problem. As one of Ireland’s leading and longest established firms, JJ Rhatigan has a competitive advantage when it comes to securing talent; however, the industry globally faces difficulties in attracting and retaining construction professionals. This is particularly noticeable across entry and mid-level positions.

This talent crunch is further highlighted by recent research from the EU-LIFE funded Build Up Skills Ireland 2030 initiative. Led by Technological University of Shannon, the study reveals the magnitude of the skills gap in Ireland’s build environment sector. To meet Ireland’s ambitious housing and climate targets by 2030, the construction industry will need to recruit an additional 120,000 skilled workers and upskill 164,000 existing workers. As the industry continues to evolve and demand for skilled workers intensifies, construction leaders like ourselves recognise that we must adapt our recruitment strategies and work collaboratively with educational institutions and policymakers to cultivate the next generation of construction talent.

Innovative Recruitment Strategies

To address these challenges, we have implemented a number of innovative strategies, including two successful recruitment trips to South Africa, with similar efforts in the UK and Canada markets planned. These international drives are crucial, as they allow us to tap into a broader talent pool. Significantly, Ireland’s construction reputation is a key factor in attracting international talent. Our industry stands out for its digital delivery of projects, high health and safety standards, quality assurance, and comprehensive building regulations. We also offer stability, with a strong pipeline of projects across various sectors including residential, education, data centres and pharmaceuticals.

In terms of growing the next generation of industry talent, we have a strong focus on graduate recruitment. For new entrants to the field, I strongly advise gaining practical experience. Students who complete placements on construction sites during their second and third years of study gain a significant advantage. There is a marked difference between graduates who have had site experience and those who have not. To retain graduates and placement students, we offer scholarships which cover final year third level education fees. Our policy of promoting from within where possible means that we view early-stage talent as our future leaders. While there have been significant efforts made to address diversity in the construction industry, it has a long way to go. At JJ Rhatigan, with the support of various government agencies and industry-wide initiatives, we are also working to address this across this business. One of these initiatives involves the establishment of an apprenticeship programme, which will see JJ Rhatigan take on Civil Engineering apprentices. These apprentices will spend four days each week on-site and one day in college.

Advice for Job Seekers

For job seekers looking to enter or advance in the construction industry, I emphasise the importance of a clear CV and cover letter; the cover letter is essential. Also, longevity in roles is crucial – we typically look for candidates who have stayed in positions for at least two years, preferably three to five. Candidates must demonstrate experience in delivering projects from start to finish, from earthworks through to handover. In construction, the ability to see a project through it’s entire lifecycle, which typically takes about 19 to 24 months, is highly valued.

Evolving Nature of Construction

The construction industry in 2024 is far more technologically advanced than many realise and the Irish industry is ahead of the game in terms of digital delivery. The demand for tech-savvy construction professionals is phenomenal. This evolution is changing the skill set required for construction professionals, which is a great advantage for new graduates. Within JJ Rhatigan, we have a programme of upskilling for our experienced workers, particularly those from trade backgrounds who may not have formal education in engineering. These employees now need to use iPads and track everything through Microsoft Projects, dealing with 50 to 60 different subcontractors digitally rather than using a pen and paper.

“A huge part of our employer value proposition is rewarding ambition; we view our team as partners, giving them sight of our pipeline of projects and this certainly enables people to plan their careers.”

Why JJ Rhatigan?

I am so proud to see JJ Rhatigan recognised as the employer of choice for so many talented people, across all levels of the organisation. This comes down to our unique employer value proposition, which is largely organic and stand out to construction candidates. From talent acquisition, right through to ongoing learning and development, we identify people we know will be a good fit and then we work hard to retain them. A huge part of our employer value proposition is rewarding ambition; we view our team as partners, giving them sight of our pipeline of projects and this certainly enables people to plan their careers.

The importance of employee well-being is recognised and prioritised in very practical ways. For instance, one of our initiatives is to finish work early on Fridays and go for a walk together. This promotes team bonding and focuses on mental health and well-being; more importantly, it creates the space for people to talk about what’s on their minds. Such employee-driven initiatives helps us to understand the pressures that our colleagues are under, whether that it is in work or outside of it. By taking such a person-centred approach, our team knows that we value them and that we understand that while work is a big part of life, it is not the only part.

For more information, email us at recruitment@jjrhatigan.com

Originally published in Construction Magazine Sept 2024 issue, pages 54-55