Staffing Construction Projects

I frequently get asked how many workers can a Supervisor or Foreman look after? Or, how many people do I need to supervise and manage my construction project?
Well the answer to these questions depends on a number of factors which we discuss in this article.

I’ve often been on construction projects which were understaffed. In fact I’ve probably been guilty of having too few staff on many of my construction projects. This creates stress for the Project Manager and other staff, often resulting in them working excessive hours, sometimes making inappropriate decisions because they’ve not had time to analyse the facts correctly. Safety and quality are compromised because staff spend inadequate time on the project site ensuring the work meets the required standards. Details get overlooked. Productivity of the workers is often poor since they are not supervised effectively and don’t have the materials and equipment to execute the tasks because their managers haven’t ordered them.
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Of course the converse is also true and the construction project shouldn’t be over-staffed with too many managers and supervisors. Too many people not only leads to inefficiencies and additional costs, but can result in people becoming bored. 

Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

​What impacts the staffing on construction projects

​The number and type of staff required for a construction project depends on a number of factors including:

• the client’s specified requirements of the type and number of staff the contractor must provide
• the size of the project
• the complexity of the project
• the size of the client’s team
• how good the client’s team is and whether they’ll be able to deliver quality information on time
• the duration of the project
• whether additional shifts or night work is required
• the skill level of the contractor’s workers
• the construction methodology
• whether the contractor will self-perform or subcontract work
• the distance between work areas or the size of the area that the project site covers
• the type of work
• the skills and experience of the contractor’s staff

Do you always require the best and most senior people for a project?

​Sometimes the contractor doesn’t have to use their most senior or experienced staff on a construction project; in fact sometimes senior staff can be detrimental on small construction projects as they:

• become bored and consequently unhappy
• they are often expensive so aren’t cost effective
• they may come with a big team
• they are used to working in a big team, with the support of junior staff, so are unable to work on a project where they are expected to do all the work themselves

Some staff are more used to, or suited to, working on their own. When they’re placed on a large project working with others and sharing their resources they become unhappy and cause problems.

Important notes for staffing construction projects

​Staff must:

• be aware of their areas of responsibilities
• know who reports to them and who they report to
• understand what documentation and deliverables they are responsible for and when these must be completed (for example updating schedules, handing over safety documentation and submitting time sheets)
• be aware of their limits of authority and the authorisation processes
• understand the company’s systems, standards, policies and procedures
• be competent, with the required knowledge and experience to fulfil the tasks they’re required to do
• deal with clients, their representatives, subcontractors and suppliers in a professional manner
• be able to work as a team with the rest of the contractor’s staff

​The project should have an organisation chart which shows the staff, their positions, responsibilities and reporting structures.

Other Useful articles:
​What does it take to manage a construction project?
Before starting your next construction project ask these questions
how to effectively manage construction projects with a large workforce

This article is an extract from the book 'Building a Successful Construction Company: The Practical Guide.'
​© 2021 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

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Paul Netscher has written several easy to read books for owners, contractors, construction managers, construction supervisors and foremen. They cover all aspects of construction management and are filled with tips and insights.
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