Former Customers Can Help Solve Labor Shortage

As an early retiree with a background in facilities maintenance, project management, sales and customer service, Ben McFarland was looking for work that would keep him busy yet allow flexible work hours. Meanwhile, Lawrence Murr, CGR, president of Lawrence Murr Remodeling in Jacksonville, Fla., was looking to add handyman services to his business.

Murr had done three remodeling projects for McFarland and offered him the job. While their arrangement was somewhat serendipitous, Murr sees other former clients as a further labor source, especially as baby boomers retire in increasingly larger numbers. He says their skills and work ethic can make retired boomers a great fit with remodeling, and their willingness to work part time reduces overhead while increasing opportunities for job sharing.

McFarland has been employed by Murr for a little more than a month, working only as needed, and has done numerous tasks, from painting to retouching wall finishes.

"This opportunity fell in my lap, but once it did, it really made sense as a good source of help for the rest of the remodeling industry. We're always complaining about needing good labor," Murr says. "He's been a great employee because he's very dependable and very handy on job sites. It's been a neat source of employment."