Tremco Talks Roofing: Labor, Diversity, Technology, Weather and Respect

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

RCS Partner Heidi Ellsworth shares an insightful look at today’s roofing industry in this episode of Tremco Talks.

The Tremco Talks educational webinar series turned to Heidi J. Ellsworth for this look at some of the most pressing issues facing the roofing industry. Perhaps the biggest one is the labor shortage. Heidi shared some startling statistics, revealing that ever since the Department of Labor began tracking job turnover 20 years ago, there have always been more people looking for work than jobs available. That changed for the first time in January 2018. In fact, 24 percent of remodelers and exterior contractors reported that they could grow revenue an additional 11-20 percent if not for labor constraints.

Heidi also noted the disparity in the construction workforce with a lack of women and other minorities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that only 9.9 percent of the construction industry is women. This represents a large opportunity for recruiting women to help ease the labor shortage. The organization National Women in Roofing has made recruiting women into the industry one of its areas of focus.

With the existing workforce aging, it’s important to look at the next generation of workers. Heidi notes that the Pew Research Center reports that as of 2017, 56 million Millennials were working or looking for work.  Gen Z, those born between 1996 and 2010, are beginning to enter the workforce as well. It’s more important than ever to understand these generations in order to successfully recruit them.  Heidi shares research that shows what appeals to these generations the most in terms of what they want from an employer.

Heidi doesn’t shy away from other issues affecting the industry as she dives into the weather. Agree or not, the weather is changing. Research shows that by 2050 the 48 contiguous states will experience an average of 20 to 30 more days above 90-degrees F. This will significantly affect roofing as days hotter than 90 degrees decrease available labor up to 14 percent, due to worker fatigue and illness.  

She continued with a look at regulatory issues surrounding OSHA, building codes, VOCs and more and shares all of the initiatives underway by industry organizations such as the National Roofing Contractors Association, Roofing Alliance and Roofing Technology Think Tank.  Heidi also introduces viewers to RoofersCoffeeShop’s Roofing Respect campaign to elevate the industry.

Tune in to learn more about what is happening in the roofing industry and what you can do to make a difference.