The asphalt industry, like many sectors in construction, is grappling with the challenge of attracting and retaining top talent.

With a tight labor market, a dwindling pool of skilled workers are increasingly scarce as people seek advancement opportunities, train in alternate industries or lack the necessary experience to fill skilled construction and infrastructure roles. To address these challenges, construction companies should take a proactive approach to advance workforce planning to secure long-term employment success.

At World of Asphalt, business strategist Jeani Ringkob leads an educational session, "Winning the Talent War: Strategic Workforce Planning for Asphalt Industry Success," offering actionable insights on how companies can recruit and develop an experienced and skilled workforce and remain competitive.

"Attracting and retaining top talent is one of the biggest challenges facing the asphalt industry today," said World of Asphalt Show Director Brittany Schmidtke. "That's why we're thrilled to feature Jeani Ringkob's workforce planning session at World of Asphalt in St. Louis this March. Jeani brings a powerful, forward-thinking approach to workforce strategy, helping companies not only fill positions, but also build stronger more engaged teams that drive long-term success."

Workforce Planning Essential

The needs of the asphalt and construction industry routinely change with technological advancements, shifting workforce demographics and experience requirements. Employers failing to plan for these changes risk losing their most valuable assets — people. Strategic workforce planning anticipates future needs, identifies workforce gaps and develops long-term solutions for supporting daily operations.

Offering years of industry specific experience helping businesses navigate workforce challenges, Ringkob provides practical strategies for developing skilled-labor pipelines, improving employee retention and positioning companies as top-tier employers.

Key Takeaways From This Session

• Building workforce strategies for long-term success;

• Increasing company value through people;

• Leveraging marketing and storytelling tactics to attract top talent;

• Increasing employee engagement, stability and productivity;

• Reducing turnover and recruiting costs; and

• Improving onboarding experience, retention and employee referrals.

"Building a workforce strategy is essential to long-term company growth and value," said Ringkob. "And the companies seeing success in workforce planning right now are treating their workforce strategy like an essential business function, not an HR issue."

Securing Asphalt Workforce's Future

Winning the talent war requires more than just filling open positions, it demands strategic planning, a strong employer brand and commitment to growth. By attending "Winning the Talent War: Strategic Workforce Planning for Asphalt Industry Success," Thursday, March 27, 2025, in St Louis, Mo., industry professionals will gain the tools and knowledge needed to attract, retain and develop the future of the workforce, according to World of Asphalt.