Meeting the Staffing Challenge

\ICivil Engineering\N magazine’s survey of small firms reveals that finding qualified employees is the greatest management challenge these firms face. This finding comes as no surprise to companies like those quoted, who have been looking for qualified engineers, only to find that applicants’ qualifications do not meet their needs, and that the strong economy is soaking up the few qualified applicants. Time management, dealing with difficult personalities, and keeping current employees satisfied and challenged are also among the respondents’ challenges. On the bright side, small firm employees say that they can offer more congenial surroundings, flexible work schedules, and a greater diversity of work experiences to those candidates who do pass muster.