[My Work] Construction industry bankruptcies expected to reach a post-Reiwa era high [Work Style Reform / HR Work]

Bankruptcies of construction companies in Fukushima Prefecture are expected to reach their highest level since the start of the Reiwa era.

I read this news.

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The article I read was specifically about the construction industry in "Fukushima Prefecture," but the same trend is occurring nationwide.

Regarding the 2024 problem in the construction industry, I wrote an article about this previously, and

as I described in that article, because "the construction industry is heavily influenced by major general contractors (prime contractors/clients)," the result is that "the scope of what small and medium-sized enterprises can do on their own is narrow," and it seems that the problem I previously feared—that small and medium-sized enterprises are suffering the negative consequences of promoting work style reform—is now manifesting.

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About a year has passed since the 2024 problem was brought into the spotlight and its effects began to appear, but a major hidden issue of the 2024 problem is that

there are few "current" employees who actually desire work style reform targeting the construction industry.

That is the point.

To put it simply, the aim of work style reform is

to change work styles (especially regarding working hours) for the physical and mental well-being of employees.

That is what it means.

Regarding this point itself, I believe it is a theme that not only I but many others can agree with.

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If we consider this from another perspective, one of the unique attractions of the construction industry is that

the more you work, the higher the salary you earn

.

In other words, the reason many 'current' employees joined the company is that 'it is physically demanding, but you get paid more the more you work.'

Therefore, for 'current' employees, they do not desire a reduction in working hours for the sake of physical and mental well-being, which means they do not want a decrease in salary income resulting from reduced working hours.

In the field of human resources and labor, there is a famous term called 'no work, no pay' (meaning if you don't work, you don't get paid), and this applies to the construction industry in this instance, so it is natural that the salaries of 'current' employees will decrease.

Consequently, it is natural that 'current' employees do not desire work style reform (in its current form).

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However, few young people entering the construction industry from now on will join with this mindset; many will simply avoid it because the working hours are long.

Therefore, work style reform targeting the construction industry has become a conflicting issue where:

X Not desired by current employees
◎ Desired by young employees (planning) to join in the future

This is the nature of the problem.

In the case of a problem like this, rather than making uniform arrangements, it is necessary to

proceed with arrangements that suit each specific site

While that approach produces good results, perhaps this has become an example of how having the government dictate everything leads to failure.

As I do with my clients, I would like small and medium-sized construction companies to operate with as much flexibility as possible.

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