Boels Rental survey highlights impact of staff shortages on construction

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Staff shortages are placing growing pressure on construction professionals, with more than half of the Dutch construction sector (57%) grappling with a lack of personnel, according to the latest Boels Rental Construction Index.

The annual research, conducted by Markteffect among 402 Dutch construction professionals, found that one in two companies (50%) now cite staff shortages as the single biggest obstacle to delivering projects.

This shortage is not only affecting productivity, it said, but also putting strain on the well-being of existing employees.

According to the report, 34% of construction professionals are routinely working more or longer hours, while 20% said they are being forced to work faster due to rising costs.

Younger professionals are also feeling the pressure of shortages, with 27% of under-35s reporting an increased pace of work.

At the same time, 49% of respondents said they are not feeling this added pressure, indicating a growing divide between overstretched workers and their less-affected colleagues.

Skills gap impacting quality and capacity

The report also highlights the growing reliance on inexperienced staff, with 44% of construction companies now dependent on less experienced personnel to fill gaps. This often places an extra burden on more seasoned team members, the survey said, who must take on training and mentoring responsibilities alongside their own tasks.

The impact of this staffing crisis is being felt at a strategic level too, with 43% of organisations now unable to take on certain projects, and 23% report missing out on key contracts as a direct result of workforce shortages.

Sven Janssen, health & safety manager, Boels Rental, said the industry must urgently address the sustainability of its workforce if it is to maintain project continuity and ensure safety.

He said, “We should not underestimate the impact of the higher workload caused by staff shortages. Not only does excessive workload pose a risk to employee well-being, it also increases the likelihood of dangerous situations arising as a result of exhaustion.

“Of course, construction companies have projects to complete and deadlines to meet, but we also mustn’t forget how important sustainable employability is for the continuity of construction projects.”

He urged employers to keep a close eye on team workloads and avoid over-reliance on key individuals, suggesting that faster onboarding, improved supervision, and strategic investment in automation and retraining could help reduce pressure and future-proof the workforce.