search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Guest ColumnLow Slope RoofingSteep Slope Roofing

Tips to Retain Good Talent During a Labor Shortage

By Mike Smyth
GC_Img01_1170.jpg
March 18, 2022

Ask any roofing contractor right now and they will tell you it is hard to find workers. According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 89% of firms report difficulty finding people to fill hourly wage jobs and roofing contractors are no exception to this trend.

This labor shortage, along with the ongoing supply-chain issues facing the industry, means roofing contractors are facing unique challenges on multiple fronts. It’s hard to hire new people right now, which is why your focus should be on retaining the workers you have. Our company, Overson Roofing, is facing all of the same issues any other roofing contractor has faced, but the labor shortage has not hit us as hard since our hiring strategy has been to hire people full time and do everything we can to keep them here.

Good contractors are an investment in your business, and business owners should do everything in their power to find the right people and keep the right people. Here are a few tips to help ensure you retain your employees during a labor shortage.


Hire Full-Time Employees That Share Company Values

So many roofing jobs are filled with independent subcontractors, and for many people, working as an independent subcontractor is a great gig. However, we believe that roofing companies and roofing contractors find a much more stable work environment when you hire them full-time with your company.

Being an independent subcontractor tends to swing dramatically month to month when it comes to job availability. One month you could be up to your eyeballs in roofing work and the next you could have no work at all. In our experience, many roofers eventually get tired of not having that security. Hiring your employees full-time means there’s going to be a paycheck for them and a job to do every day of the month. Bringing on full-time employees helps establish a level of commitment for both parties and fosters stronger professional relationships. Your roofers are incentivized to do a good job and you are incentivized to keep finding your team more work so there is always a job to do.

Retaining good roofers is obviously a worthwhile goal for any roofing business, but to retain good roofers you have to hire good roofers. This means looking for people that align with the values and needs of your roofing company. For example, our company does not hire inexperienced roofers. This creates a short-term hiring barrier for our company but helps us in the long term since, when we do hire people, we know they are experienced enough to do a job right and do it right the first time.

Since we trust everyone we hire we also rely on our contractors to help us find new roofers. Many of our new employees are hired based on referrals from our current employees. When you set high hiring standards, the people that stay tend to share those same standards and recommend people with the same work ethic.

Investing in full-time employees is a bigger commitment than hiring independent contractors, but if you commit long term to your roofers, more often than not, they will commit long term to you.


Create Pathways for Advancement

Give your roofers an opportunity to grow professionally at your company. Good talent will stay if they can move up the company ladder. Give your employees the opportunity to apply themselves and become better assets to your company. One of the reasons I think we’ve been able to keep our best talent is because they’re constantly challenged and rewarded for doing more. We have guys that started as crew members, moved up to foremen and supervisors, and then started managing supervisors. Hire the right team then put that team in leadership roles as they improve.

Growth is not just giving someone a promotion, it is also giving them the tools to educate themselves and become specialists in their fields. Give your employees the time and resources to take training classes. This means not only training them yourself but also giving them the opportunity to obtain certifications. All of our supervisors are certified and specialize in a particular roofing style. Our tile guys only work on tile roofs, shingle guys only work on shingle roofs, and our foam guys only work with foam. Give your team the chance to master their crafts. They will be more likely to stay with you if they know the company is invested in their professional growth. “The definition of an expert is to know more and more about less and less.”


Provide a Benefits Package

Roofing is a tough job, which is why if you want to retain good roofers you have to make sure you’re looking out for their future. I would strongly recommend providing your full-time employees with 401(k) and medical benefits. Roofers work in a physically demanding and potentially dangerous job, so you need to ensure your crews’ long-term physical and financial health are being looked out for. Give them options for healthcare and retirement and educate them on those options. These options give roofers security and keep them on your team.

Supply-chain issues and the labor shortage have been difficult challenges for the roofing industry, and one of the best ways to avoid dealing with a labor shortage is to retain the best talent that already works for you. Give your roofers security, a chance to grow, and a chance to learn and they will be less likely to find new work. Invest in your employees and they will continue to invest their skills into your company.

KEYWORDS: business development employee relations labor shortage recruitment retirement supply shortage

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Mike Smyth is the general manager at Overson Roofing located in Mesa, Ariz. Overson Roofing has served its clientele with respect and professionalism for over 30 years. The company won the Better Business Bureau Blue Torch Award for ethics in 2016.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Editor's Note
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Undocumented workers make up 36% of the U.S. roofing workforce, leaving contractors and workers alike especially vulnerable.

Roofing is Left Exposed by Trump’s Deportation Flip-Flop

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Overson Roofing_2

    Technology is Good, Boots on the Roof is Better

    See More
  • GCABC_Img1_1170

    6 Tips for Preparing for Storm Season During a Supply Shortage

    See More
  • The DCX Roofing Academy offers focused, industry-specific training to develop roofing support professionals who are fully prepared for their roles on "Day 1."

    A New Way to Fight the Labor Shortage

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Green_roof_Systems.gif

    Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design and Construction of Building Over Structure

  • performance

    Performance-Based Building Design: From Below Grade to Floors, Walls, Roofs, and Windows to Finishes, 2nd Edition

  • business.png

    How to Succeed With Your Own Construction Business

See More Products
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing