What is the difference between a passive and an active job seeker in construction?

Active Construction Jobseekers are those who are "actively" seeking a construction job or job change. These jobseekers are aggressively sourcing leads to find a job opportunity that is current, and he or she is available to make a job move right away. These jobseekers may be unemployed or employed, but they are pro-active in their job search. Such jobseekers are usually less concerned about confidentiality, are willing to apply to public job listing and willing to submit their resumes to construction recruiters that will market them for hire.

Passive Construction Jobseekers are those who are interested or open to making a job change, but are not aggressively seeking. Passive job seekers are usually employed and very discrete about their job hunting efforts. They typically are not needing to make a job change but merely open to considering one. Confidentiality is a great concern and they are less likely to submit their resumes to online job openings or even to recruiters.

Construction employers often prefer to hire employed, passive job seekers over unemployed active job seekers. However our research at HMC indicates that construction employers hire as many active job seekers as passive job seekers. A job seeker, either passive or active, basically has the same amount of chance in getting hired if both share the same job qualifications. What determines a hire is primarily due to a job seeker's job qualifications and ability to fit into the employer's company culture.