The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is moving broadband expansion from planning into implementation, creating a major opportunity to connect communities with reliable high-speed internet. But turning funding into infrastructure requires more than capital, materials and project plans. It requires a workforce.
BEAD-funded projects need workers across a wide range of roles, from broadband and fiber specialists to equipment operators, drivers, flaggers and general laborers. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) estimates that tens of thousands of workers will be needed to build these broadband networks at scale, while preparing and training workers can take months.
For contractors and broadband providers, securing enough workers at the right time can be just as important as securing materials and equipment.
Build a flexible workforce for BEAD projects
BEAD deployment can span large geographic areas and move through multiple phases, from site preparation and construction to installation and activation.
A project may require additional workers as construction ramps up, temporary coverage when crews are stretched or support in a new market as deployment expands. A workforce plan built around a fixed headcount may not provide enough flexibility to respond.
A combination of core employees, specialized workers and flexible staffing helps contractors align workforce capacity with project demands as they change.
Expand your broadband construction labor pool
Rural deployment can make workforce planning even more challenging. Many communities targeted for broadband expansion have smaller labor pools, while remote locations and difficult terrain can make recruiting more difficult.
Specialized telecommunications and fiber construction workers may be especially challenging to find in these locations. Local recruiting remains important, but contractors may also need access to workers beyond a single community.
A staffing partner with a broad labor network can provide additional resources when local labor availability is limited, helping contractors add workers without relying entirely on traditional recruiting.
Match staffing to each phase of deployment
BEAD-funded projects do not require the same workers from start to finish. Planning for changing labor needs can help contractors avoid having too few workers in critical areas while maintaining unnecessary headcount elsewhere.
Flexible staffing can also support specialized crews by providing workers for essential support tasks such as:
- Material handling and movement
- Site preparation and cleanup
- Traffic control and flagging
- Staging and yard support
- General construction labor
With supplemental workers handling support functions, specialized employees can spend more time on the technical work their expertise requires.
Keep BEAD projects on schedule with staffing support
Workforce shortages can create ripple effects across a project. When critical roles are difficult to fill, crews may wait, existing employees may be stretched across multiple projects and schedules can begin to slip.
That makes workforce planning an important part of infrastructure readiness. Contractors and broadband providers that identify labor needs early can pinpoint hard-to-fill roles where flexible staffing could help and determine when additional workers may be needed.
Scale your BEAD workforce with PeopleReady
BEAD deployment requires a workforce that can adapt as project needs change. For contractors and broadband providers facing labor shortages, flexible staffing can provide access to workers when and where they are needed.
PeopleReady provides staffing solutions for BEAD-funded broadband and infrastructure projects, with access to workers across a range of roles, including general labor, flaggers, drivers and equipment operators. Our national network, local teams and JobStack technology help contractors quickly connect with available workers and scale staffing as projects progress. The right workforce is available when it matters most.
