Business View Caribbean - Apr 2024

articulates the impact of the labor shortage that a national announcement from the Prime Minister has accentuated. “Last year, our prime minister announced national news about the labor shortage and skilled labor. We were having too many projects undertaken in Jamaica with insufficient skilled labor to supply,” Steele shares.This shortage has significantly affected project scheduling and budgeting. “You tend to find that you’d start with a certain complement of skilled labor, whether it’s carpentry, masonry, steel work, and midway through the project, you would find that that complement has been cut in half,” he explains, emphasizing the fluidity and unpredictability in workforce availability that can derail project timelines and inflate costs. On incentives for retaining workers, Issa is candid about the limitations of such strategies given the project-driven demand for specific skills.“Regarding the subcontractors, there’s the incentive to get them often, they will hire the architect and bring us on board afterward.” Discussing the key suppliers and subcontractors that play a crucial role in ISSA Construction’s operations, Issa mentions several notable collaborations that help push the company’s agenda forward. “Tank- Weld is a big supplier of ours. Creative Building Finishes, we buy a lot of tiles from them. Active Traders as well. They sell tiles, toilets, countertops,” he states. Issa also notes another critical supplier, “ARC Manufacturers, as well.” These relationships support the company’s logistical needs and enhance its ability to deliver projects effectively, maintaining quality and efficiency across its expanding portfolio. ADDRESSING LABOR SHORTAGES AND SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES The construction industry, often a bellwether for economic shifts, is encountering significant labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, which have intensified in Jamaica in recent years. Steele 31 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 04 ISSA CONSTRUCT ION LTD