Building Materials Market Update
Hiring, Training, and Retention Confidence Remains High
Tariffs and trade may dominate the headlines, but across the building materials industry, we’re seeing continued confidence and investment in teams and market growth—even amid uncertainty.
With Q1 behind us, our clients across North America are staying the course with their 2025 growth plans, continuing with the hiring strategies set well before January. Drawing on lessons from COVID-19, we’re seeing a more measured, strategic response to economic uncertainty, and signs of a more resilient and experienced business mindset in the face of unprecedented upheavals.
Learning from the Not-So-Distant Past
Like many sectors, the building materials industry was forced to make rapid, reactive decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, like layoffs, scaled-back operations, and abrupt strategy shifts. While understandable in the face of global uncertainty, these moves left many companies on the back foot, extending recovery times as they worked to rebuild teams and regain momentum in what ultimately became a growth period for the industry.
Today, the response to recent market uncertainty is becoming clear and it looks very different than 2020. Companies are drawing on the hard lessons of the pandemic and are responding with greater composure and strategy. While challenges remain, many are using this period to invest: doubling down on training, refining strategy, and strengthening teams. Rather than cutting back, organizations are actively hiring, especially at the Sales Representative level, and upgrading talent in key managerial roles. The focus is forward: building strength, not scaling back.
Current Market Dynamics
Regardless of what will be regarding tariffs and trade bumps in the road ahead, the building materials market is demonstrating robust activity. Here at DMC Recruitment, we’ve observed a significant uptick in engagement activities, with our workload increasing by nearly 30% compared to average levels for Q1. This surge, combined with close consultation with our clients, indicates that companies are proactively seeking talent to strengthen their market positions rather than retreating in the face of economic pressures.
Areas including Florida, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, New York, Georgia, and the Pacific Northwest in the US, and Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Alberta in Canada are experiencing blanket heightened demand, reflecting a US/Canada-wide trend of sustained construction activities in key regions. This resilience is further underscored by the Associated Builders and Contractors’ projection that the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 439,000 net new workers just in 2025 to meet anticipated demand.
Amidst this uncertain trade environment, companies in the building materials industry are doing something we didn’t see as much during the early days of the pandemic, they are staying the course and seizing the moment. Many are treating this time as a strategic opportunity to gain market share and sharpen their competitive edge. The focus on training and improvement of staff falls off when times are good, orders are plentiful, and you need to do very little to meet your targets. When there is a lull in the chaos of just keeping up with demand, businesses are able to focus on making moves to improve their teams and capture market share through service, not just supply.
This shift is reflected in not just sales, but with increased in operations, management, back-office, and technical talent as well. Organizations are positioning themselves to serve their existing markets more effectively while also expanding into new ones, knowing that the companies who remain visible and well-resourced during uncertain times are the ones that come out ahead. Strategic hiring, rather than reactive cuts, appears to be the go-to playbook.
Retention Is the New Recruitment
In the building materials industry, companies are realizing that retaining their current team is just as critical to growth as hiring new talent, especially in a market where competitiveness and consistency go hand in hand. Organizations looking to stay aggressive in their pursuit of market share know that continuity within their teams is a major advantage.
To achieve this, firms are placing a stronger emphasis on internal engagement and long-term career development. From flexible work policies for office-based staff to clearly defined growth paths and improved onboarding, these efforts are designed not just to retain talent, but to make employees proud to stay.
Companies are increasingly aware that today’s labor market rewards employers who offer purpose, opportunity, and stability. And the ones that build that reputation aren’t just retaining—they’re attracting.
Industry Outlook
While tariffs have introduced complexities, including increased costs for materials and potential supply chain disruptions, the industry’s overall trajectory remains positive from where we sit. Companies are not only maintaining their workforce but are also investing in growth and expansion strategies.
This proactive stance is a testament to the industry’s adaptability and the effectiveness to learn from lessons of past economic and market disruptions. By focusing on strategic talent acquisition and operational resilience, the building materials sector is well-positioned to navigate the current challenges and continue its growth trajectory.
In Summary
The building materials industry, drawing from past experiences, is approaching current economic challenges with a balanced and strategic mindset. Increased recruitment activities and sustained market demand for materials and talent, indicate a sector that is not only coping with the pressures of tariffs but is also poised for continued growth and success.
At DMC Recruitment, we remain committed to supporting the industry’s talent needs, ensuring that companies are equipped to thrive in the evolving economic landscape.
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